Blame it on academic stress, relationship issues or emotional breakdown, there is a rise in the number of suicides by students and youngsters. This seems to be a major concern as such trend is being witnessed across the country and as well as in Odisha.
On Sunday, the body of a young traffic volunteer was recovered by Lingaraj Police from his house at Surya Vihar area in Bhubaneswar. The deceased, Atulya Kumar, was Plus III student at Ekamra College. The reason behind Atulya's extreme step is still unclear.
Earlier, the entire state was shocked after a girl student ended her life allegedly for not performing well in the Class 10 board or matriculation examination on March 20, 2023. The deceased hailed from Jajpur district. The family members claimed that their daughter was attending two tuitions and they only had asked why she could not perform well in two subjects.
The girl student subsequently ended her life by hanging herself with a dupatta inside her house.
The incident could be taken as the tip of the ice-berg. There are several other instances where a number of students chose to end their lives for multiple reasons.
On April 30, a Plus III girl student who had gone missing three days back was found dead under mysterious circumstances at Gangasagar in Bolangir’s Patnagarh. The girl was found hanging from a tree on a farmland near Gangasagar village. She was a student of Patnagarh Jawaharlal College and staying in rented accommodation for the last two years.
While it is yet to be ascertained whether the case is a murder or suicide, the police have launched a detailed probe.
A girl student was found hanging in her hostel room of a private college under Chandaka Police limits in Bhubaneswar on April 18, 2023. The deceased, Archana Das, was a second-year student of the B.Sc Data Science department. Family members claimed that Archana could not end her life by suicide as she had returned from home a day after her exams.
Also Read: Rising cases of youths, celebrities killing self in Odisha: Health expert cites reasons
Psychiatrist Dr Amrit Pattajoshi said there could be multiple factors contributing to the increasing number of student suicide cases. Among the several factors, academic pressure, mental health issues, isolation or loneliness, substance abuse and relationship problems and lack of support could be prominent reasons behind the rise in suicides by youngsters.
According to Pattajoshi, detecting early signs could play a crucial role in providing a cushion for youngsters to open up on what they are going through.
Here Are Some Warning Signs
Verbal Cues: If the person talks about- Wanting to die or kill themselves
Experiencing unbearable pain
Seeking revenge
Behavioral Cues
Past suicide attempt
Drug/ alcohol abuse, or relapse after a period of recovery
Sleeping too much or too little
Isolating from friends and family
Stockpiling pills/poison
Co-occurring depression, mood disorder
Unexplained anger, aggression, and irritability
Emotional Cues
Sudden mood swings
Feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, and perceived burdensomeness
Feelings of shame/ humiliation, guilt
Feeling trapped/ thwarted
Unexplained anger, aggression, irritability, or relief
Stress, anxiety, and restlessness
Depression/low moods
Major Challenges Schools, Universities Face In Addressing Suicide, Promoting Mental Health
Insufficient number of school mental health professionals.
Lack of adequate training for dealing with children’s mental health needs.
Lack of funding for school-based mental health services
Stigma associated with receiving mental health services.
Competing priorities taking precedence over mental health Identifying children with mental health needs
Lack of coordinated services between schools and community