Suicide bent grips India’s youth

Crushed by exams, joblessness and despair, while the government remains a mute spectator to their predicament

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: India’s youth are dying at an alarming rate—not due to war, disease, or crime, but by their own hands. The latest National Crime Records Bureau data presents a grim reality: 1,70,924 suicides were reported in 2022, the highest in the world. Young people aged 18-30 accounted for 35% of these deaths, while minors made up another 6%. These numbers reflect a society where immense pressure, systemic failures, and neglect are crushing an entire generation.Student suicides saw a 4% rise, reaching 13,044—7.6% of all suicides.

The World Health Organisation ranks suicide as the third leading cause of death among those aged 15-29. A 2024 Springer study estimated around 52,000 annual deaths from suicide among children and adolescents. India is failing its youth, and the crisis is worsening.One major culprit is the relentless academic pressure. Overambitious parents, an unforgiving education system, and intense competition for limited seats in premier institutions are taking a heavy toll. Kota, India’s coaching hub, is a grim example: seven students have died by suicide in just two months of 2024. The message is clear—education is no longer about learning, but survival. Another driving force is unemployment.

A shrinking job market, coupled with exploitative work conditions, leaves young graduates hopeless. The high suicide rate among daily wage earners reflects how economic uncertainty is pushing people over the edge. For marginalised students, caste-based discrimination exacerbates the crisis. Even in elite institutions, Dalit and tribal students face exclusion and humiliation, increasing their sense of alienation. Their deaths are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a deeply flawed system. India must act now. Including mental health education in the National Education Policy is a step forward, but much more is needed.

The country must expand access to mental health professionals, make therapy affordable, and implement support systems in schools and workplaces. Addressing the employment crisis is equally vital to give young people a sense of security and purpose.But the first step must begin at home. Indian families, often dismissive of mental health struggles, must recognize that emotional well-being matters as much as academic or financial success. The stigma and silence surrounding mental health must end. If India ignores this crisis, the consequences will be devastating.

A nation that does not care for its youth is a nation heading toward irreversible decline. The time for action is now—before more dreams are extinguished, leaving behind grieving families and unanswered questions.