India Faces Rising Crisis, Student Suicides Outpace Population Growth

A recent report has cast a spotlight on the alarming rise in student suicides across India, growing at a rate that significantly exceeds both the national population growth and overall suicide rates. Unveiled at the Annual IC3 Conference and Expo 2024, the report, titled “Student Suicides: An Epidemic Sweeping India,” highlights the growing mental health crisis within the nation’s educational system.

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), while overall suicides in the country have increased by 2 percent annually, student suicides have surged by an alarming 4 percent each year—double the national average. The report suggests that these figures might even be understated due to the social stigma attached to reporting suicides and the legal complexities surrounding the issue.

The statistics reveal a troubling picture: in 2022 alone, student suicides reached 13,044, a stark increase from 6,654 cases a decade ago in 2012. Despite a slight decrease in the population of individuals aged 0-24 years, the number of student suicides continues to climb. Male students accounted for 53 percent of these cases, although their numbers have slightly decreased. However, female student suicides saw a worrying 7 percent increase from the previous year.

Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh are identified as the states with the highest number of student suicides, representing one-third of the national total. The southern states and union territories contribute to 29 percent of these cases, while Rajasthan, known for its high-pressure academic environment, particularly in Kota, ranks 10th.