Student suicides accounted for 7.6% of all suicides reported across the country in 2022. While this marked a slight drop from 8.0% in 2021 and 8.2% in 2020, the numbers still point to a deeply worrying trend. The data, drawn from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), was shared in the national parliament this week by the Minister of State for Education.
The figures reveal more than just statistics. They show a burden silently carried by young minds, many of whom are struggling in ways that go unnoticed.
Government departments, particularly the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, have stepped in with new efforts.
One such step is the ‘MANODARPAN’ initiative, a programme offering psychological support through counselling helplines and live sessions.
The programme has already reached a large number of students across the country.
Alongside this, the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) has been expanded to cover 767 districts.
It focuses on suicide prevention and teaches life skills in both schools and colleges. Mental health is also being tied closely with addiction awareness.
ANTI-DRUG EFFORTS ADDRESS A GROWING CONCERN
Recognising the rise of substance abuse among youth, the government has launched stronger anti-drug campaigns.
Higher education bodies, including the University Grants Commission (UGC), have asked institutions to take responsibility for student well-being. The emphasis is now on physical fitness, mental strength, and emotional support.
Colleges are encouraged to introduce sports, wellness programmes, and stress management activities on campus.
Some leading technical institutions have already started to respond. IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Guwahati have begun workshops on mental resilience for students and teachers under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme.
These are important steps. But what remains is the question of everyday care, how teachers, parents, and classmates can spot signs of distress, and how communities can support young people not just when they fall, but before they begin to stumble.
This is not just a policy issue. It is a quiet crisis that needs listening, not just planning.
(WITH INPUTS FROM PTI)
– Ends