Just last week, 21-year-old Parshuram hanged himself in Kota—the coaching hub of India—making it the 15th suicide case there since the beginning of 2024. Kota was intended to prepare him for one of the toughest exams in the country—NEET. Tragically, it ended up costing him his life. But what if he had lived to pass the exam? Are student suicides limited to the coaching phase? Unfortunately, they are not. According to a report, 115 students have died by suicide at IITs over the past 20 years, and the number remains unclear for other high-ranking educational institutions.Students Suicide Outpace Population GrowthIn India, student suicide rate has outpaced both population growth and overall suicide trends over the past decade. While the population of individuals aged 15-24 has decreased slightly from 582 million to 581 million, the number of student suicides has more than doubled, rising from 6,654 to 13,044. The states leading the list are Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Madhya Pradesh, that account for one-third of the total incidents nationwide. Rajasthan, known for its intense academic pressure, ranks 10th.Indu Punj, a counsellor and consultant at IIT-Delhi, highlighted several critical factors contributing to this crisis. She noted that students in competitive environments, such as those in Kota, are trained to excel academically but often lack essential social skills. "Children as young as 10 years are sent to these coaching centres where they are focused solely on exams and rarely engage in extracurricular activities or socializing. Therefore, even after they achieve their goals and make it to the revered organization, they become prone to anxiety, depression, and chronic loneliness. "These children, particulaly from smaller towns, are never prepared for life outside. "Emotional pressure is another cause. Most of the students constantly strive to meet their parents' expectations which eventually reduces their self-worth to the marks they score. Dr Rachana Awatramani, PhD Counseling Psychology, said "Most of the parents sell most or almost all their property and belongings to afford the coaching institutions. They use their lifetime of savings. And their kids know this. Now imagine the pressure that child must go through everyday. The guilt attached with failure in such cases is a major factor behind student suicides." Students exploring their sexuality face further challenges. Punj opines that non-acceptance from family or society can exacerbate feelings of isolation and distress. Despite legal advancements, such as the abolition of Article 370, societal acceptance of LGBTQ+ individuals remains limited, leading to increased psychological distress and, in some cases, suicide. "There is still a lot of shame attached to coming out as a homosexual or a trans sexual, "says Awatramani. Relationship issues are a leading cause.Are School Goers Susceptible To Suicide? Awatramani opined that teen and young children are also suscpetible to suicide. "I was once treating a girl in 9th grade. She was depressed and threatened by her parents scolding her constantly for not doing her homework. She eventually took her life. But taught us that parental pressure has a huge impact on a child's life," she said. Besides, peer pressure and validation from social media and virtual friends also lead to comparision. This pushes the child in depression and anxiety and in many cases, to committing suicide. The following article discusses sensitive topics related to student suicides, which may be distressing to some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, it is crucial to seek professional help. In India, you can contact several helplines for immediate assistance and support.