Student suicides in India rose to a record 14,488 cases in 2024, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. While overall suicides in the country showed a slight decline, student suicides increased at a faster rate, raising concerns about mental health and academic pressure among young people. The report states that student suicides accounted for 8.5% of total suicides in 2024, compared to 8.1% in 2023. Experts have linked this rise to academic stress, untreated mental health conditions and the lack of early support systems in educational institutions.
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Why are student suicides rising
As per a Hindustan Times report, the number of student suicides in India rose to a record high of 14,488 in 2024, marking a 4.3% increase from 13,892 cases in 2023, even as overall suicides in the country declined marginally by 0.4% from 171,418 to 170,746 during the same period, according to data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). While total suicides increased 11.6% over five years and 27.8% over the past decade, student suicides rose at a faster pace, increasing 15.7% in five years from 12,526 in 2020 and 62.2% over ten years from 8,934 in 2015. In total, 115,850 students died by suicide between 2015 and 2024. The share of student suicides in overall cases also increased over time, reaching 8.5% of total suicides in 2024, up from 8.1% in 2023, 8.2% in 2020 and 6.7% in 2015.
Causes and expert views
Family problems, illness and addiction were among the leading reported causes. Experts said academic pressure and untreated mental health conditions are major factors. As per Hindustan Times report, Dr Om Prakash said “We often see exam pressure, cut-throat competition, parental expectations, career worries and social media as major triggers for rise in students’ suicide. Though these triggers certainly matter but in my clinical experience, many students who attempt or die by suicide are battling untreated depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder or other deep emotional distress that was never picked up in time. We urgently need early identification, stigma-free counselling and stronger mental health support systems in educational institutions.”
As per Hindustan Times report, Ganesh Kohli, founder of Mumbai-based International Career and College Counselling (IC3) Movement, which works on issues related to student mental health, said that to prevent student suicide cases, educational institutions must integrate mental health awareness into mainstream education as part of essential student support systems. He said “Teachers and parents also need greater sensitisation to recognise early signs of distress and create environments where students feel safe seeking help without fear of judgment,” he said.
Demographic trends and causes in student suicides revealed by NCRB data
Of the 14,488 students who died by suicide in 2024, 7,669 were male and 6,819 were female. The highest proportion of student suicides was reported in Maharashtra (13.2%), followed by Uttar Pradesh (10.9%), Madhya Pradesh (10%) and Tamil Nadu (8.9%).
The largest share of student suicides were among those educated up to Class 10 or secondary level (25.6%), followed by Class 12 or higher secondary (18.3%), Class 8 or middle level (17.7%), Class 5 or primary level (14.4%), and illiterate individuals (10.1%), while 5.6% were graduates or higher. Family problems remained the leading reported cause, accounting for 33.5% of cases, followed by illness (17.9%) and drug or alcohol addiction (7.6%), while unemployment (1.5%) and failure in examinations (1.2%) made up smaller shares.
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The NCRB data highlights a continued rise in student suicides in India despite a slight decline in overall suicides. The trend points to growing concerns around mental health support in academic environments.
Experts stress the need for counselling, early intervention and awareness programmes in schools and colleges to address the issue effectively.
