Why cases of Student Suicide are increasing?

Table of Contents

Introduction:

These days, we often hear the news of students taking their lives for petty reasons. The question is: Why cases of student suicide increasing? What are the factors that are compelling our youngsters to take this extreme step? And what steps do we need to take immediately to save the precious lives of our future?

What does the data say?

As per the 2023 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report:
13,044 students committed suicide in the country in 2022. This accounted for 6 percent of all suicide deaths in 2022.
The report says that due to the failure of exams, 1,123 students committed suicide, and the majority of them were under the age of 18.
The highest percentage of deaths was among students in secondary education. They accounted for 23.9% of all the suicides in 2022.

Reasons behind student suicide:

This is the period when a teenager has to decide in which direction he will take his career. A lot of thoughts come into his mind, which creates confusion. Friends opt for a different career; parents force him to take a particular career, and his interest suggests something else. This creates confusion and fear among students, which compels him to take the extreme step of suicide.
Many students who prepare for comprehensive exams like JEE and NEET also feel great pressure while preparing for engineering and medical exams. On the one hand, they feel great pressure from family to get good ranks in these exams. Some students start comparing themselves with others and lose confidence. Those who cannot face the pressure should take their lives.

Some students fall into the trap of bad company. Under peer pressure, they start drinking and smoking, and some of them even become drug addicts. When they could not find a way to break the trap, they committed suicide.
Bullying in schools is also a reason. Physically strong boys form groups and tease weak boys. A teenager can’t share these things with teachers and parents and finally commits suicide. Also, these days, the concept of cyberbullying has emerged. Some teenagers, when posting their pictures on social media, are teased by other users or friends. This decreases his morale.
Online games like Blue Whale and PUBG are also the reason. When they lose a game, they commit suicide.
Sometimes attraction towards the opposite gender is also a reason. Teenagers take life in the name of love.
Some teenagers fall into the trap of cybercrimes and take their lives.

Measures to stop student suicide

Youth should be mentally strong. A positive attitude is important. No problem in this world cannot be solved. Life is precious. So, youth should behave strongly.
Physical exercise, yoga, and meditation classes should be given in schools and colleges. These exercises not only relieve our stress but also give us positive energy.
Youth should make good friends and share their feelings with them. Sometimes we find it difficult to share something with our parents or teachers, but we can share it with our friends. And a good and intelligent friend resolves that issue.

The elders should be active and should notice the behaviour of a teenager. If they find anything unusual, they should talk to them and provide them with a solution.
Children should not be compared to others. They should not be forced to choose a career or take a particular subject.
There is a need to restructure the curriculum of coaching institutes. It is seen that if a student starts failing in the monthly test of coaching, he starts losing hope. Recently, the Kota administration took steps to stop the test system to save students from stress.
Recently, the Ministry of Education issued guidelines that no student below the age of 18 will be enrolled in the coaching institutes with false promises.

Conclusion:

India has a demographic divide. The majority of the Indian population is young. This is a blessing for our country. It is high time that the whole ecosystem be created in such a way that the youth of our county get the right direction and utilise their energy in a positive direction. For that, parents, teachers, society, the media, and, above all, the government need to play their roles.