13,000 Student Suicides in One Year: Supreme Court’s Shocking Wake-Up Call to India’s Education System – 15 Must-Follow Guidelines Listed

The Supreme Court on Friday, July 25 issued a set of 15 guidelines aimed at reducing student suicides in educational institutions across India. The move comes amid alarming data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which reported that 13,044 students died by suicide in 2022, about 7.6% of the 170,924 total suicides that year.

Highlighting the urgency of the matter, the court said, “The continued loss of young lives, often due to preventable causes rooted in unattended psychological distress, academic overburden, social stigma, and institutional insensitivity, reflects a systemic failure that cannot be ignored.”

The data shows a sharp rise in student suicides over the past two decades, from 5,425 in 2001 to over 13,000 in 2022. Out of these, 2,248 deaths were directly linked to examination failure.

The court took note of these rising numbers and said such deaths highlight “systemic gaps that need urgent attention.” It acknowledged the growing academic and social pressures faced by students and emphasized the need for better mental health support in educational settings.

Mental health support and training

Among the 15 directions, the court ordered the appointment of dedicated mentors or counselors for smaller batches of students. These counselors must provide “consistent, informal, and confidential support,” especially during exams and academic transitions.

Another key order is the mandatory mental health training for all teaching and non-teaching staff, at least twice a year. This training will be led by certified mental health professionals and will focus on “psychological first aid, identifying signs of emotional distress, responding appropriately to instances of self-harm, and following proper referral protocols.”

Staff members must also be trained to interact sensitively with students from vulnerable and marginalized communities, ensuring a non-discriminatory environment.

Other mandatory measures

The guidelines apply to all educational settings, including schools, colleges, coaching centers, training academies, and hostels. Institutions are required to set up internal committees to handle issues like ragging, sexual harassment, and student grievances, while also offering psycho-social support.

The court also directed institutions to integrate “mental health education, emotional regulation, and life skills” into student activities. They must maintain anonymized wellness records of students and display suicide helpline numbers such as Tele-MANAS prominently in classrooms, hostels, and websites.

The order was passed under Article 32 of the Constitution and will remain in force as law under Article 141 until suitable legislation is brought in by Parliament or state assemblies.

The court’s decision came while hearing a petition related to the suicide of a 17-year-old NEET aspirant in Visakhapatnam on July 14, 2023. The student’s father had approached the Supreme Court after the Andhra Pradesh High Court rejected his request for a CBI probe. The Supreme Court has now ordered a CBI investigation into the case.

The bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta said that institutional safeguards must be implemented to “protect students from psychological distress, academic pressure, and lack of support.”