These days, studying has become more about scoring the highest marks and getting into the best college, instead of actually learning or enjoying the process. This constant pressure is taking a toll on students. Many feel burdened and end up taking extreme steps when they can’t meet expectations.
A new report has revealed a worrying truth, India accounts for one in every nine student suicides in the world. The 2024 IC3 Student Suicide Report shows that student suicides are rising sharply across the country, especially in schools and colleges where the academic pressure is intense.
Between 2013 and 2022, India recorded over one lakh student suicides, a 64 per cent increase compared to the previous decade. Experts say this crisis goes beyond exams and marks. It reflects a deeper cultural problem which is built on fear, silence, and lack of emotional support.
‘Students feel unseen and unsupported’
“Students today face immense pressure be it academic performance, parental expectations, social comparison, yet few feel truly seen or supported,” says Ganesh Kohli, Founder of the IC3 Movement.
He explains that early signs of distress often go unnoticed. “Instead of guidance, many experience fear-based motivation in classrooms. Instead of trust, they are met with silence. Counseling is still viewed as a last resort, not a core part of the education experience,” he adds.
According to Kohli, India urgently needs a ‘cultural reset’ in how it approaches learning and student well-being. “Students don’t hate subjects; they disengage when they don’t feel understood by the adults guiding them,” he says.
He believes the solution starts with parents and teachers, “They are the first counsellors students turn to. When teachers are trained to spot early warning signs and listen without judgment, students start to feel safer.”
Mental health remains a missing link in schools
The IC3 Student Quest Report found that 40 per cent of Indian students have never spoken to a counsellor, though the number has improved slightly from 52 per cent the previous year.
“Where counselling exists, it’s often irregular, hard to access, or doesn’t feel relevant to what students are going through,” Kohli says. “The gap between awareness and action remains too wide.”
He stresses that mental health shouldn’t be treated as an ‘add-on.’ “It needs to be part of the daily rhythm of school life which includes regular check-ins, visible counsellors, and safe spaces where students know they can talk,” he adds.
Experts also agree that most schools still approach mental health reactively, stepping in only after a crisis occurs. What’s needed, they say, is a preventive approach, where emotional support is built into everyday interactions between students and trusted adults.
‘It doesn’t always take big budgets’
Many schools, especially in smaller towns, struggle with limited resources. Kohli says supporting student mental health doesn’t always need huge funding, it needs consistent structure and empathy.
“One practical approach is ensuring every teacher is first a counsellor,” he explains. “With basic training, teachers can identify distress early and offer immediate emotional support during routine classroom interactions.”
Low-cost programs like Gatekeeper Training, developed by the Averting Student Suicide Task Force, help teachers and parents recognize early signs of distress. Peer mentoring, student wellness clubs, and teacher-student advisory circles are also affordable ways to create emotional safety nets within schools.
Why AI tools can’t replace human support
The IC3 report also found that 83 per cent of students now use AI tools like ChatGPT for research and guidance on careers and college admissions. But Kohli says even as technology helps, it can’t replace human connection.
“Students may turn to AI for quick answers or when they’re too shy to ask adults, but when it comes to emotional support and life decisions, they still crave real human connection,” he explains.
He suggests simple activities like weekly teacher-student check-ins, group reflection sessions, and well-being hours. “A 15-minute conversation with a trusted adult can make a bigger impact than any digital tool,” he adds.
Counselling should be the foundation of education
Kohli, who has met thousands of students through IC3 programs, says most students aren’t looking for more lectures, they want genuine guidance.
“They’re not just struggling with studies, but also with emotions, changing friendships, identity, and uncertainty about the future,” he says. “They want clarity, connection, and confidence and that comes when guidance is part of school life, not outside it.”
He believes counselling shouldn’t be an occasional service, but the foundation of education itself. “When every teacher and parent is prepared to listen and guide, the whole learning environment transforms. It’s not just about fixing problems, it’s about building stronger, happier, more confident young people.”
