A series of student suicides reported across Gujarat over the past eight days has raised fresh concerns over the pressures faced by young people in educational institutions.
Five students from Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara have died by suicide since September 18. The incidents have brought renewed attention to academic pressure, expectations surrounding education and careers, and the need for stronger mental-health support for students.
Two student suicides reported at Marwari University
Marwari University in Rajkot has witnessed two student suicides within six days. On September 19, a student died after falling from a high-rise building on the university campus. On September 25, 20-year-old Hemant Sitaram Prasad Gandam, a third-year Computer Science student from Andhra Pradesh, also died after falling from a building at the university.
According to police, Hemant was staying in the university hostel. He attended classes with his classmates on the morning of September 25 before leaving the classroom around 8 am. He was later found seriously injured on the campus. He was taken to hospital, where he was declared dead.
Police have not yet established a specific reason behind the student’s death. His family was informed and travelled to Rajkot. The second incident triggered protests by ABVP activists, with police detaining six protesters during the demonstration.
Two cases reported in Surat
Surat also reported two student suicides during the same period. On September 18, a student who had returned home after appearing for a B.Com examination died after falling from a high-rise building. On September 24, a second-year postgraduate medical student also died by suicide. In Vadodara, a Class 10 minor girl was also reported to have died by suicide.
1,899 student suicides reported over three years
The latest incidents have renewed concerns over student suicides in Gujarat. According to figures cited in the report, 1,899 students died by suicide in the State over the past three years.
The data also indicates that 568 student suicides were recorded in one year, while more than 1,024 of the victims were girls. Among the reported reasons associated with student suicides, 108 cases were linked to fear of examination failure and 159 to unemployment.
The figures have prompted calls for closer scrutiny of the factors contributing to student suicides, including academic pressure, financial difficulties, employment concerns and expectations surrounding education.
Calls for stronger student support
The recent cases have also renewed demands for a comprehensive review of the pressures faced by students and greater access to counselling and mental-health support on campuses.
There have also been calls for an independent assessment of student suicides at the State and national levels, along with a time-bound action plan to identify risk factors and strengthen preventive measures in educational institutions.
For students facing overwhelming pressure or thoughts of self-harm, immediate support from a trusted person, counsellor or mental-health professional can be important. In India, the government-run Tele-MANAS helpline can be reached at 14416 for mental-health support.