Education is a proven pathway out of poverty and many see it as a ladder to success and economic prosperity. The societal mindset in India is one where grades define an individual. As such, students face parental and societal pressure to attain a quality education and excel academically. Anyone falling short of these standards is seen as a failure by their family and society. This stress, along with adequate mental health support for the population in general, has contributed to rising student suicides in India, a country where millions endure poverty.

The Situation in Numbers

The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) released an Accidental Deaths & Suicides in India (ADSI) report in 2022 as the suicide rate in India reached an all-time high in 2021. According to the report, in 2020, 864 out of 10,732 suicides were due to “failure in examination.” The report noted more than 13,000 student suicides in India in 2021 at the rate of more than 35 per day. This concerning report highlights a need for urgent action.

Academic Stress

In August 2023, the coaching hub Kota of India recorded 23 student suicides. The coaching centers in Kota prepare students for the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE), for engineering and the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medicine. The hub draws more than 200,000 students annually to help them prepare for these exams. The high-pressure culture that surrounds these coaching centers shows a glimpse of the stress students face academically.

These exams are considered the most difficult and are entry tickets to placements in noteworthy education institutes. Institutes like IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) or IISC (Indian Institute of Science) select the highest rankers. The pressure on students does not decrease once they pass these exams. The Union Ministry of Education had told Parliament that 61 student suicides were recorded across top educational institutes — IITs, NITs and IIMs in 2023.

The focus on skill development is minimal, and there is a strong emphasis on scientific and mathematical fields. Approximately 90% of the education is theoretical, with limited opportunities for practical learning and student research.

Poverty also contributes to the academic pressure experienced by students. Many consider high-quality education a way to escape poverty, as it can lead to better job opportunities. A paper that The National Library of Medicine published in 2022 revealed that a significant majority of suicide victims in India were from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The data indicated that economic hardship was a significant factor in 64.2% of the 164,033 student suicides in 2021. These students had an annual income of less than Rs 1 lakh.

Mental Well-Being and Stigma

Mental health draws a lot of stigma in India. Many see people who seek psychological as mentally ill or deranged. There is also a significant shortage of psychologists and psychiatrists, with only three professionals available for every 100,000 people dealing with mental health challenges. Despite this scarcity of mental health services, the prevailing cultural taboo makes it limited to public discourse. On the bright side, the government of India is taking action to fight the stigma surrounding mental health and to make mental health care services more accessible in order to improve mental health across the country.

Launched on July 21, 2020, MANODARPAN, an initiative by the government of India, actively facilitates a comprehensive array of measures to bolster the mental and emotional well-being of students, teachers and families. This encompasses organizing workshops and seminars on happiness and wellness, delivering regular yoga sessions and implementing induction programs like Paricharcha. Further, there are considerations for extracurricular engagement in sports and cultural activities. Appointed student counselors are responsible for nurturing holistic personality development and alleviating student stress. A “National Toll-free Helpline (8448440632) [is available] to provide tele-counseling to students across schools, colleges and universities and their parents and teachers to address their mental health and psychosocial issues,” the National Council of Educational Research and Training website states.

Looking Ahead

With sustained commitments to address the mental health needs of students, India could see decreasing rates of student suicides.

– Asra Mairaj
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