“When a student dies by suicide, it is not just a personal tragedy — it is a national failure.”
When a student takes their own life, the loss extends far beyond the individual. It is a heart-wrenching reflection of the flaws in our social fabric, parental expectations, educational systems, and policymaking processes. These incidents force us to confront difficult questions like- Why are our students losing hope?;What drives them to such irreversible decisions?;And most importantly — what can we do to prevent the next tragedy?
The Alarming Statistics: IC3 institute report says that over the last decade(2013-2022),103,961 students suicides which is 64 percent increase compared to the prior decade (2003-2012). The alarming condition is that over the last decade while population of 0-24 year olds reduced from 582 million to 581 million , the number of students suicides increased from 6654 to 13044. Based on NCRB data(released 28 Aug.,2024) overall suicides numbers increased by two percent annually, students sucide cases by four percent.Kota, which is known as India’s coaching capital, paints an even darker picture. 15 students sucide in 2022 ; 26 students suicides in 2023;17 students suicides in 2024 and 14 students suicides already till May 2025.It’s not just Kota. Students across India are silently succumbing to academic and emotional pressure.
Why Are Our Students Giving Up?
(a) Academic Pressure: Marks, exams, ranks, and the uncertainty of future careers have turned from motivators into sources of deep anxiety and fear.
(b) Institutional Insensitivity: Toxic environments of some of the institutions are filled with discrimination, ragging, and neglect.It is combined with the absence of counseling which erodes students from within.
(c) Mental Health Neglect: Depression, anxiety, guilt, and loneliness are not mere weaknesses but serious medical concerns. Yet, shame and silence deepen. UNICEF report says that one in seven young people between the ages of 15 and 24 in India experience poor mental health, including symptoms of depression and disinterest.
(d) Parental & Social Expectations:Unrealistic aspirations, peer comparisons, and societal pressures often place unbearable burdens on young shoulders.
(e) Emotional Turmoil & Virtual Isolation: Teenage heartbreaks, social media dissatisfaction, and gaming addiction often detached students from reality and healthy coping mechanisms.
What Can Be Done — And By Whom?
(i) Parents:
- Rebuilding Emotional Safety
- Understand children’s emotional needs
- Spend quality time together
- Encourage open communication without judgment
- Avoid comparisons with others and finally be supportive in career decisions — don’t impose.
(ii) Educational Institutions:
- Create Healing Environments
- Provide regular mental health counseling,
- Appoint sensitive mentors or teachers for every class,
- Maintain zero tolerance for ragging, discrimination, insensitivity
- Trained the staff to identify and address distress signals early
(iii) Teachers:
- Be More Than Educators: Teachers Must Help Students Understand — “You Are More Than Your Marks”
- Teachers should maintain dialogue, offer encouragement, and reassure students that failure in exams is not failure in life.
(iv) Students:
Students must understand that life is precious and failures are lessons, not endpoints. There are many paths to success, and setbacks are part of the journey.
As Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore said, “Storms are not uncommon, but only those who row the boat reach the shore.” Similarly, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam reminded us, “Giving up is the greatest failure. But trying again after failure is the beginning of the greatest success.”
When feeling overwhelmed, students should not suffer in silence—they should reach out to friends, parents, teachers, or counselors. Help is always available, and seeking it is a sign of strength, not weakness.
(v) Policymakers:
Curricula must be redesigned to reduce dependence on private coaching. University assessment systems should be aligned more closely with competitive exams to minimize academic pressure.
If coaching centers cannot be phased out, they must be strictly regulated to ensure accountability and student welfare. Additionally, nationwide mental health helplines should be promoted and made easily accessible.
Emotional literacy and open dialogue must be integrated into the education system, fostering a supportive environment where students can thrive both academically and emotionally.
(vi) Society:
Struggles are a natural part of growth, and failure should be seen as a step—not a stop—on the path to success. It’s vital to respect individual battles without romanticizing or glorifying suicide.
Media and social media platforms must act responsibly, avoiding sensationalism and instead promoting awareness, empathy, and support.
We must build a culture where seeking help is recognized as a sign of strength, not weakness—creating an environment where every student feels seen, heard, and supported.
Beyond Marks: Valuing Every Student’s Life
Every student lost to suicide leaves behind a haunting question: “Was my life worth only my success?”
If education is truly meant to prepare individuals for life, then it must teach not just how to study—but how to live.
Protecting students’ lives, dreams, and hopes must be our highest priority—as parents, teachers, institutions, society, and as a nation. Nothing matters more than ensuring that every student feels valued beyond their grades.
[Written by Prof. (Dr) Man Mohan Prakash ]
