CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: One in 11 students reported suicidal thoughts in survey findings
New Delhi. A nationwide survey by the National Task Force constituted by the Supreme Court on the mental health of students in higher education institutions has revealed a serious situation. Among responses received from more than 2.43 lakh students, around 9 percent said they had often or very often experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year. This is equivalent to nearly one in every 11 students.
According to the survey, around 15 percent of students said they had gone through several weeks of extreme stress, low mood or anxiety in the past six months. Around 34 percent of students said they felt like an outsider in their institution at some level. Nearly 67 percent of the students included in the survey were from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes.
Questions have also been raised about mental health facilities in institutions. Around 32 percent of students said counselling facilities were not available in their institution, while only 56 percent said they trusted that the administration would handle serious cases fairly. According to the report, more than 70 percent of the surveyed institutions did not have full-time mental health professionals.
The National Task Force has clarified that the current survey findings are preliminary and provisional, as the sample does not represent the entire student community. The task force’s final report is expected to be submitted to the Supreme Court by October 31, 2026. It will include recommendations on students’ mental health, institutional support and suicide prevention measures.
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