Student suicide rate in India has outpaced the overall trend and population growth rate, report says

Based on data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), the report “Student Suicides: An Epidemic Sweeping India” was launched on August 28 at the IC3 Annual Conference & Exhibition 2024.

The report notes that while overall suicide numbers have increased by 2% annually, student suicide cases have increased by 4%, despite the fact that there is likely to be “underreporting” of student suicide cases. “Over the past two decades, student suicides have grown at an alarming annual rate of 4%, double the national average. In 2022, male students made up 53% of total student suicides. Between 2021 and 2022, male student suicides decreased by 6%, while female student suicides increased by 7%,” notes the report prepared by the IC3 Institute.

“The incidence of student suicides continues to outpace both population growth rates and overall suicide trends. Over the past decade, while the population aged 0-24 years declined from 582 million to 581 million, the number of student suicides increased from 6,654 to 13,044,” he added.

The IC3 Institute is a volunteer-based organization that supports high schools around the world through guidance resources and training for their administrators, teachers, and counselors to help establish and maintain strong career and college counseling departments.

According to the report, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are identified as the states with the highest number of student suicides, together accounting for one-third of the national total.

Southern states and union territories collectively contribute 29% of these cases, while Rajasthan, known for its high-risk academic environment, ranks tenth, highlighting the intense pressure associated with coaching hubs like Kota.

“The data collected by the NCRB is based on first information reports recorded by the police. However, it is important to recognise that the actual number of student suicides is likely underreported. This underreporting 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.

While the Mental Health Care Act 2017 decriminalises suicide attempts by people with mental illness, the legacy of criminalisation continues to affect reporting practices, she said.

“Furthermore, there are significant discrepancies in data due to the lack of a robust data collection system, particularly in rural areas, where information is less consistent compared to urban regions,” he added.

Ganesh Kohli, founder of the IC3 Movement, said the report serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address mental health challenges within our learning institutions.

“Our educational approach must shift to fostering our students’ skills in ways that support their overall well-being, rather than pushing them to compete with each other.

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

In addition, the report noted a dramatic rise in student suicides: male suicides increased by 50% and female suicides by 61% over the past decade.

“Both sexes have seen an average annual increase of 5% (percent) over the past five years. These alarming statistics underscore the critical need to improve counseling infrastructure and better understand student aspirations.

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