There has always been a problem of suicide in India and by 2020, more than 12,500 34 students in the country are afflicted by the epidemic would have died by suicide at a pace of more than 34 per day. According to the most recent suicide statistics, the number of people who died by suicide increased last year. Since 1995, India has lost over 1.8 lakh kids to suicide, which is one of them, according to data research. Most were reported in 2020, a year when tests were less stressful than in any previous year since most students were being promoted without having to take exams in school.
“Suicide does not happen by mistake,” said Dr. John Vijay Sagar, professor, and HOD, pediatric and adolescent psychiatrist, Nimhans. In most circumstances, pupils will run across issues early on. They would have had to cope with additional stress and worry as a result of the extraordinary epidemics. With the exception of homes where both parents could work from home, most children/students spent time alone at home. This implies that out-of-the-box initiatives, such as the classified ad seeking friends and the school/college campus, may disturb their coping techniques. He went on to argue that because everyone lived at home, family problems that the pupils couldn’t see would be exposed.
And In the last seven years, 122 students from state-run higher education institutions, including IITs and IIMs, have died by suicide, with over half of them being students of traditionally disadvantaged race or ethnicity, according to the government.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the Lok Sabha that 122 students died by suicide between 2014 and 2021, with 68 of them being organized (SC), organized ethnic (ST), or other retroactive classes, in response to a question from AKP Chinraj member Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (OBC).
Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), Indian Institutes of Management (IIM), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), and midrange and middle universities are among these institutions. Institutions of the government
“To address the issue of student harassment and discrimination, the Government of India and the University Grants Commission (UGC) have adopted a number of actions. The University Grants Commission (Student Grievance Resolution) 2019 regulations were created to defend the interests of students, according to the minister.
There are 24 SCs, three STs, and 41 OBCs among the 122 pupils who have died by suicide. According to a written response, three additional kids were in the minority. The central universities had the most students (37), with 9 SC, 1 ST, and 14 OBC (about two-thirds), and three minorities. Thirty-four students died by suicide at IIT, five of whom were from the SC and thirteen from the OBC. Another 30 students have died by suicide at NITs, including six from the SC community and 11 from the OBC community.
The minister outlined several initiatives made by the government to combat mental health challenges.
“During the Covid epidemic and afterward, the government’s MANODARPAN program integrates a number of programs to give psychological assistance to children, teachers, and families for mental and emotional well-being.” Furthermore, the centers established workshops on happiness and well-being, regular yoga sessions, internship programs, after-school programs comprising sports and culture, and the employment of student counselors to build personalities and stress-relieving pupils, according to the minister.
“In addition, students, guardians, and caregivers are encouraged to be mindful of the symptoms of depression that other students in the authorities may be experiencing so that prompt professional support may be offered,” he said.
