The pressurising ecosystem of Indian education has tempered the student’s mental health, resulting in increasing cases of student suicides. A recent report based on the data of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has revealed that student suicide cases have surpassed the population growth rate in India.
The report was published on Wednesday, labelled as “Student suicides: An epidemic sweeping India”. Release at the Annual IC3 Conference and Expo 2024, the report highlighted that the cases of student suicide increased by four per cent annually. Meanwhile, the overall suicide cases rose by two per cent.
According to the report, “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.”
The decadal data from 2013-22 shows around 104,000 recorded cases of student suicides, which is a 64 per cent jump compared to the cases of 2003-2012.
State-wise data
With 29 per cent of the total cases, the South Indian states and union territories including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep take the largest portion of the nationwide student suicides.
Rajasthan’s Kota city, the student hub of the country with thousands of aspiring students who are preparing for the entrance of NEET and IIT, ranks 10th in the state-wise list with a total of 571 student suicides. Other states including Maharashtra (1,764), Tamil Nadu (1,416), Madhya Pradesh (1,340), Uttar Pradesh (1,060) and Jharkhand (824) cuts a 49 per cent chunk in total suicide cases across India.
Male students made 53 per cent of the total cases in 2022, the report stated. It further noted that male suicide decreased by 6 per cent between 2022-23, while female suicides rose by 7 per cent in the same interval.
“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 Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code,” the report added.
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