India's Suicide Crisis: Increasing At an Alarming Rate
India is becoming the hub of innovation and technology, but at what cost, suicides? The country is being considered as the youngest nation which is true, but the youngsters are killing themselves eve...
India is becoming the hub of innovation and technology, but at what cost, suicides? The country is being considered as the youngest nation which is true, but the youngsters are killing themselves every day!
The reasons are well known to everyone, and what is the reason behind NCRB's report to consider it an epidemic? Let's find out!
Report of NCRB on India's Suicide Rate
On 24 August 2024, the report of NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) was released at the IC3 Conference and Expo 2024. The data of the report indicated an increase in student suicide with a Rate of 4% in the last two decades.
“The latest figures from the
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)² reveal that in 2021 alone, over 13,000 student
suicides were reported, equating to an average of more than 35 lives lost daily.
Alarmingly, this translates to a student suicide roughly every 40 minutes in India.” It included.
The report collects data on suicides from the registered FIRs (First Information Reports) from NCRB. The report suggests that the actual number of suicides can be higher due to under-reporting due to social stigma, and criminalization of suicide attempts under Section 309 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The report confirms that the increased rate of suicide rates among students is surpassing the population growth of India and the 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 7,696 to 13,089.” It included.
Image Source: The NCRB Report
Rise In Male-Female Students Suicide Rate
“In the year 2021, male students constituted 57% of the total student suicides. An analysis
of the past decade reveals a staggering 113% surge in male student suicides and a
worrisome 79% increase in female student suicides”
“Moreover, over the last two decades, both male and female student suicides have experienced substantial percentage increases, particularly evident when observing the data in the five-year intervals” it added.
Regional Data on Suicide Rates
States such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Odisha report nearly 46% of the suicide rates in India.
Uttar Pradesh, the most populated state reported a lower percentage of suicide rates, accounting for 5.3% of the nation.
“Significant fluctuations in student suicide rates have been observed in several states
over the last five years. There was a dramatic increase of 207% in Jharkhand and a
considerable surge of 186% in Rajasthan. On the other hand, West Bengal showed a
promising improvement, with a notable decrease of 76% in student suicides during
the same timeframe.” It added.
The southern states and union territories of India such as Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep reported 29% of suicides.
The report consists of many possible reasons behind the suicides such as;
⦁ Academic Distress for marks and ranks among students.
⦁ Forced Career Choices that come from parents and peers.
⦁ Lacks of support from Educational Institutions.
⦁ Ragging and Bullying and no action towards it from authorities.
⦁ Discrimination on caste, class, sex, and race.
⦁ Financial stress due to preparatory courses and tertiary education.
⦁ Changing family structures
⦁ Emotional neglect
⦁ Societal apathy
⦁ Undetected psychiatric disorders due to social stigma.
“A key factor in preventing student suicides is helping young individuals discover
purpose and meaning in their academic pursuits and personal lives. Rote learning and
high-stakes examinations often overshadow the intrinsic joy of learning. To tackle this,
schools must embrace a holistic approach that nurtures creativity, curiosity, and critical
thinking. By incorporating arts, sports, and extracurricular activities, students can
explore diverse interests and develop a sense of self-identity beyond academic
achievements. Educators play a pivotal role in guiding students to identify their
passions, strengths, and values, empowering them to pursue fulfilling paths.” It included.