More students than farmers are dying by suicide in India. What's behind the alarming rise?

There is a rising concern about student suicide in India.

According to a new report, incidents of student suicide are rising at an alarming annual rate, exceeding the population growth rate and overall suicide trends.

Based on the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the Student Suicides: An epidemic sweeping India report was launched on Wednesday at the Annual IC3 Conference and Expo 2024.

Let’s take a closer look.

Rising student suicide rates

The report pointed out that while the overall suicide numbers increased by 2 per cent annually, student suicides cases surged by 4 per cent, despite a likely “under-reporting” of student suicide cases.

According to the report, there were 13,044 recorded student suicides in India in 2022 — a slight decline from 13,089 in 2021. Despite this decline, the overall suicide rate — which includes both students and the general population — has increased from 164,033 in 2021 to 170,924 in 2022.

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“Over the past two decades, student suicides have grown at an alarming annual rate of four per cent.”

“The incidence of student suicides continues to surpass both population growth rates and overall suicide trends. Over the last decade, while the population of 0-24-year-olds reduced from 582 million to 581 million, the number of student suicides increased from 6,654 to 13,044,” it added.

This rise is particularly concerning as the rate of student suicides has been growing at twice the pace of the overall suicide rate over the past 20 years.

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Student suicides account for 7.6 per cent of all suicides, a rate comparable to many other professions including paid workers, farmers, jobless people, and self-employed people.

The IC3 Institute is a volunteer-based organisation that provides support to high schools around the world through guidance and training resources for their administrators, teachers and counsellors to help establish and maintain robust career and college counselling departments.

States with the highest suicides

According to the report, in 2022, Maharashtra (1,764 suicides — 14 per cent), Tamil Nadu (1,416 suicides — 11 per cent), and Madhya Pradesh (1,340 suicides — 10 per cent) are identified as the states with the highest number of student suicides, together accounting for one-third of the national total.

Uttar Pradesh with eight per cent of suicide rates and Jharkhand with six per cent followed next.

Southern states and Union Territories collectively contribute 29 per cent of these cases, while Rajasthan, known for its high-stakes academic environment, ranks 10th, highlighting the intense pressure associated with coaching hubs like Kota, as per PTI.

Also read: What are the new rules for coaching centres? Will it curb student suicides?

Gender-wise division

In 2022, male students constituted 53 per cent of the total student suicides.

Between 2021 and 2022, male student suicides decreased by six per cent while female student suicides increased by seven per cent,” noted the report compiled by IC3 Institute.

Additionally, the report noted that over the past decade, there was a dramatic increase in student suicides, with male suicides rising by 50 per cent and female suicides by 61 per cent.

“Both genders have experienced an average annual increase of five per cent in the last five years. These alarming statistics underscore the critical need for enhanced counseling infrastructure and a deeper understanding of student aspirations.

“Addressing these gaps is essential for shifting the focus from competitive pressures to nurturing core competencies and well-being, thereby supporting students more effectively and preventing such tragedies,” the report said.

Under-reporting

“The data compiled by the NCRB is based on police-recorded First Information Reports (FIRs). However, it is important to acknowledge that the actual number of student suicides is likely underreported. This under-reporting can be attributed to several factors, including the social stigma surrounding suicide and the criminalisation of attempted and assisted suicide under Sector 309 of the Indian Penal Code.”

Although the 2017 Mental Healthcare Act decriminalises suicide attempts for individuals with mental illness, the legacy of criminalisation continues to impact reporting practices, it said.

“Moreover, there are significant data discrepancies due to the lack of a robust data collection system, particularly in rural areas, where reporting is less consistent compared to urban regions,” it said.

Key reasons behind high suicide rates

According to The Times of India, the report also pinpointed a number of important factors associated with student suicides in India.

Academic distress, focused career choices, ragging and bullying, discrimination, and financial stress are some of the reasons.

Other factors, including lack of support from families and educational institutions, changing family structures, emotional neglect, social apathy, and undetected psychiatric disorders due to lack of communication, also contribute to the rising suicide rates.

Addressing the crisis

Ganesh Kohli, the Founder of the IC3 Movement, was quoted by PTI that the report serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address mental health challenges within our learning institutions.

“Our educational focus must shift to fostering the competencies of our learners such that it supports their overall well-being, versus pushing them to compete amongst each other.

“It is imperative that we build a systematic, comprehensive, and robust career and college counselling system within each institution, while seamlessly integrating the same within the learning curriculum,” he said.

To further address the growing crisis, it is essential to implement comprehensive measures such as promoting mental health, improving quality of education, and providing adequate support services.

A collection of Suicide prevention helpline numbers are available here. Please reach out if you or anyone you know is in need of support. The All-India helpline number is: 022-27546669)

With inputs from agencies