Breaking Point: The Unseen Crisis of Youth Suicides in India

By: Anisha Gupta

Youth suicides in India have surged, with rates now double that of the general population. High expectations, societal pressures, and lack of mental health support contribute to this crisis, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic reforms and a culture prioritizing well-being.

Suicides amongst the youth of India have reached a boiling point, and the current suicide rate of youth is twice that of the general population. This trend is disturbing and points to a national crisis; it underlines immediate systemic alterations that society, education, and governance need to make while tackling the mental health issue of the youth. 

A recent report in The Hindu underlines that the number of youth suicides has increased, outstripping overall growth rates for the general population and indicating a growing crisis. According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau, India saw over 1.6 lakh suicides in 2021, out of which some 13,089 were by those below age 30. This accounts for an almost unprecedented rate of 36 youth suicides every day. The estimated suicide rate is 12.4 per 100,000 (in 2022), and the youth have their pressures, particularly those at transitional points, such as from adolescence into adulthood. The youth suicide rate in India is very different from the global average; it is disturbingly high. According to WHO estimates, suicides among young people in the 15-29-year age group are around 9 per 100,000 every year in the world. India far exceeds this with a high youth suicide rate. This calls for immediate and urgent interventions and systemic reforms in addressing challenges relating to the youth in India. 

Pressures are something quite multi-dimensional that young people in India face. From social expectations to family pressures, youth are caught in the cycle of high expectations versus fear of failure. The environment sometimes becomes a pressure cooker, leaving little room for emotional or psychological respite. The pandemic further accentuated such issues, where new modes of learning online, isolation from peers, and uncertainty about the future further deepened stress among youth. Many struggled with adapting to new modes of education and social non-interaction, factors that had compounded the crisis further. The cultural context in India adds to the complication. 

Success is narrowly defined to include achievements related to academics and profession only, leaving very little room for alternative pursuits or personal fulfillment. Children are constantly made to understand from a very young age that academic success is the goal in life. Society and economic realities drive parents to unconsciously create unattainable expectations from their children; failure in academics implies personal failure. This is exacerbated by the stigma of failure and poor mental health. These burdens of expectation, coupled with other issues of mental health, make the youth feel that they have nobody to talk to due to their fear of stigmatization or exclusion. This feeling of isolation may then push the person to a point of hopelessness and the belief that suicide might be a good way out of a situation they consider irredeemable. To manage this crisis, mental health support must become a part of the social mainstream, beginning with schools and colleges. It must be a point of utmost importance within schools and colleges to equip their students with stress management skills and facilities for seeking help on issues about mental health. Moreover, there should be a societal mindset where the mental well-being of citizens is pursued just as much as success in academic and professional fields. 

Suicide is an evolving menace in India, having acquired the status of a national tragedy. While high-pressure demands for academic achievement are there, it is deeper societal and cultural expectations that can only explain such root causes. Such a culture will create the right environment to prioritize mental well-being and provide support for struggles. Only then can India start its efforts to reverse this trend of destruction and give its youth a more positive and hopeful future.