Suicidal hailstorm hits young Indians. Data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) shows that there were 13,044 student suicides in the country in 2022, with the number of cases increasing by 4% annually.

The findings based on NCRB statistics are summarized in the report “Suicides: An Epidemic Sweeping India” prepared by the non-profit organization IC3 (International Career and College Counseling).

Various factors are responsible for this dismal situation. Harish Menon, founder of the student mental health task force at the IC3 institute, cited a fear-based education system, the Covid-19 pandemic, play- and phone-based childhoods, and stigmas and taboos as some of the triggers.

“The Indian education system often fosters fear and pressure. With a large, ambitious young population, competition for opportunities is intense. While a certain level of competition can be motivating, it often begins in early childhood with constant comparison. By the time students reach middle and high school, these comparisons can become extreme, leading to unhealthy competition. In the worst cases, this pressure can result in tragic outcomes such as suicide,” Menon explains.

Experts say students are often taught subjects without context or a sense of purpose, leading to frustration and stress. At a time when young minds should be encouraged to think creatively, they are forced to follow rigid paths.

Previously, children spent hours playing freely, exploring their surroundings and learning to cope with threats on their own. With the rise of smartphones and social media, their social interactions have moved online, making them less familiar with the real world.

“Despite greater access to the Internet, many children do not feel a real sense of belonging. They constantly compare themselves to idealized portraits of other people’s lives, whether it’s a classmate’s exotic vacation or a neighbor’s seemingly perfect family. These feelings of inadequacy and isolation contribute to a sharp increase in anxiety, depression and even self-harm among teenagers,” notes Menon.

Add to this the extremely caring attitude of modern parents. While keeping children safe is important, research shows that when they are over-protected from threats and challenges, they may have difficulty building resilience and problem-solving skills. Overprotection can also lead to higher levels of anxiety and make it harder to deal with stress.

In a Gallup poll conducted for UNICEF in 21 countries, 80 percent of young respondents said they would seek help for mental health problems. “India stood out, with only 41 percent of young people saying they would do the same. In a separate study of more than 550 secondary school teachers in southern India, more than 70 percent viewed mental health problems as a weakness rather than a disease. Mental health remains a taboo topic in the country,” notes Menon.

Although the 2017 Health Care Act decriminalized suicide related to mental health problems, discussions on the topic raise questions. Students and parents should feel comfortable taking mental health leave and reporting it to school officials without fear or stigma.

Not only that, based on very early findings from the pilot study, students reported to the IC3 Student Mental Health Task Force several main reasons affecting their mental health: academics, including schoolwork, homework, grades and test scores; family pressures such as meeting parents’ expectations of perfection, domestic violence and relationship breakdown; body image, both in the context of one’s own perception and that of others; and their professional future, for example whether they will get into their dream university or whether their parents can afford their education.

Menon says educational institutions can play an important role here. For example, schools can provide guidance and transform the education system from competitive to competency-based. “Make academics meaningful, purposeful and, just as importantly, fun. Subjects like math and science can be taught and learned in a fun way on the soccer field, in the bedroom, or even in the kitchen. Shifting the focus from competition to competence will create a healthier and more supportive learning environment,” he suggests.

Counselors, teachers and educators should help students discover their strengths and interests. This self-awareness can help students understand their strengths, weaknesses, interests, and abilities, which is essential for making informed decisions about their academic and career paths, thereby improving students’ mental well-being.

This holistic approach prepares students to better meet the challenges of higher education and the professional world. Another solution could be to provide gatekeeper training. In India, there is less than one mental health expert per 100,000 people. The ideal number is three. In some high-income countries, there are as many as six.

“We need a community-oriented model of mental health care. This applies to all stakeholders in the child’s ecosystem (parents, friends, teachers, school management, other school staff, student council leaders) who are prepared to train gatekeepers. Just as many have learned the basics of CPR, given the rise in mental illnesses, we should all undergo gatekeeper training to spot students with mental health issues and at-risk students,” Menon explains.

Other possible solutions could include providing students with a safe and inclusive space to openly discuss their mental health issues, and strong support systems for students, such as access to mental health experts, on school and college campuses.

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