Student suicides are taking place with such alarming regularity that it has become imperative to fully understand mental health and prioritise it as a top concern. What makes it worse is that these are entirely preventable.
Health is not just a mere absence of disease. According to WHO, it is a state of physical and mental well-being. The right to health is expected to be enjoyed by all persons regardless of any distinctions. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948 as well as the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights, 1966 asserts the right of all human beings to enjoy the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.
Driven by factors such as competition and changing family dynamics, the prevalence of mental health challenges has surged over recent decades. The COVID-19 pandemic, while posing unprecedented challenges, has also ignited a collective determination to address these issues. Remarkably, mental health disorders are now acknowledged as a top global concern and are poised to surpass even cardiovascular diseases in terms of impact. This recognition propels us forward on a path of proactive intervention and support.
Within the student community, a new narrative of resilience is emerging. While there are increasing reports of depression and mental health challenges, we see a growing willingness to seek help and support. Academic pressures and family dynamics, once unspoken factors, are now being openly addressed. These young minds are navigating a complex world, filled with influences from various quarters, yet their determination to overcome obstacles is inspiring.
The Government of India’s National Mental Health Programme acknowledges the reality that a significant portion of our population faces mental health issues. However, it also reminds us of the tremendous potential for change. Awareness campaigns and de-stigmatization efforts are gradually dismantling barriers to treatment. As we move forward, we must harness this momentum to ensure that mental health resources are accessible to all who need them.
Addressing the shortage of mental health professionals is a challenge we are ready to confront. Recognizing the right to health as a fundamental human right reinforces our commitment to bridging the urban-rural gap in mental health care access. Our dedication to this cause signifies a profound step toward fulfilling these human rights and fostering a healthier, more compassionate society.
What can universities do?
Universities need to create safe spaces for students to enable them to freely come forward and seek the help of counselors, should any need arise. The counselors need to be qualified and professionally competent. They must uphold the right to privacy and maintain utmost confidentiality about students who approach them. They must inspire confidence among students. There are several online agencies available for counseling students which have been engaged by some universities.
Teachers are part counselors too. While assessing student work, they know whose academic progress has been going down and can go into reasons thereof and counsel them. They also can identify who is missing classes regularly and showing withdrawal from various activities. They must intervene promptly in such cases. The mentor-mentee system must be implemented fully and overseen by the leadership.
The peer group has a supporting role to play. They can identify students who are not moving out of their hostel rooms and are withdrawing from sports and other group activities. It is important to notice sleeping disorders, and loss of appetite and to address underlying causative factors. If not addressed on time, some of them could even lead to an extreme step.
We need to spread awareness about some of these issues and encourage students to seek professional help when needed. The NEP 2020 has stressed the need for courses relating to life skills. It is very important to address the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness. Every human being goes through vicissitudes of life. But that doesn’t mean one can’t bounce back after a fall. Hope is humanity’s greatest discovery. And so, there should be awareness campaigns about the futility of suicide as an option.
Teachers should be trained on Success, Leadership, Happiness, and Life Skills in order to create self-awareness for students to figure out their purpose in life and stay close to it. It will enable them to grapple with various issues and how to nurture and nourish our bodies and minds, which are two of our most precious assets. Initiatives that advance emotional and social intelligence as well as related abilities must be offered by all universities.
The author is the Vice Chancellor, RV University, Bangalore.