Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Education addressed concerns regarding the increase in student suicide rates in Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 123 on July 21, 2025. The response details government initiatives and measures to address mental health issues among students, including support programs, guidelines for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), and regulation of coaching centers. Key actions include mental health support programs, implementation of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), and the issuance of guidelines for coaching centers.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Data on Student Suicides:**
* The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) collects and publishes data on suicides, including student suicides, in its annual Accidental Death Suicide in India (ADSI) reports.
* Student suicides accounted for 7.6% of total suicide cases in 2022, compared to 8.0% in 2021 and 8.2% in 2020.
* Various causes of suicides include professional/career problems, sense of isolation, abuse, family problems, mental disorders, addiction, financial loss, and chronic pain.
* **Government Initiatives for Mental Health Support:**
* MANODARPAN, an initiative by the Ministry of Education, provides psychological support to students, teachers, and families through a toll-free helpline and interactive sessions.
* The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare implements the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP), including the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP), which offers suicide prevention services, stress management, and counselling in schools and colleges.
* The Ayushman Bharat School Health Wellness Programme incorporates emotional wellbeing and mental health modules, training teachers as Health and Wellness Ambassadors.
* A National Tele Mental Health Programme, launched in 2022, includes Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (MANAS) Cells and a mobile application.
* **Guidelines and Advisories for HEIs:**
* The UGC issued advisories to HEIs on January 6, 2023, regarding the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
* UGC issued Guidelines for Promotion of Physical Fitness, Sports, Students Health, Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Well being at HEIs on April 13, 2023.
* The Ministry circulated a framework for emotional and mental wellbeing in HEIs on July 10, 2023, encouraging proactive measures and confidence-building among students.
* IITs (Madras, Delhi, Guwahati, Gandhinagar, and Roorkee) have conducted workshops on Mental Wellness and Stress Management.
* The Department of Higher Education initiated an Integrated approach for Promoting Positive Mental Health under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme.
* **Regulation of Coaching Centers:**
* Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centers were issued to States/UTs on January 16, 2024, and followed up on July 16, 2024.
* The guidelines emphasize mental wellbeing, counsellors and psychologists' support, and the maintenance of records.
Impact Analysis:
* **Students:**
* Impact: Students are expected to benefit from increased mental health support, awareness programs, and reduced academic pressure from regulated coaching centers.
* Action Required: Students should utilize available resources such as helplines, counselling services, and mental health programs in their institutions.
* **Teachers/Faculty:**
* Impact: Teachers/faculty will receive training and resources to identify and address student mental health concerns.
* Action Required: Participate in training programs like the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme and implement the framework for emotional and mental wellbeing in HEIs.
* **Higher Education Institutions (HEIs):**
* Impact: HEIs are required to implement guidelines and advisories related to student mental health and wellbeing.
* Action Required: Incorporate mental health support services, promote physical fitness and psychological wellbeing, and take proactive measures to instil confidence in the student community.
* **Coaching Centers:**
* Impact: Coaching centers will be subject to regulations aimed at reducing academic pressure and promoting mental wellbeing.
* Action Required: Adhere to the Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centers, including providing counselling services and prioritizing student mental health.
* **State/UT Governments:**
* Impact: State/UT governments are responsible for implementing the guidelines for coaching centers and supporting mental health programs.
* Action Required: Consider the Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centers by way of appropriate legal framework and support the implementation of the NMHP and other mental health initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
National Crime Records Bureau NCRB: The Indian government agency responsible for collecting and analyzing crime data, including suicide statistics, and publishing the Accidental Death Suicide in India (ADSI) reports.
MANODARPAN: An initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, aimed at providing psychological support to students, teachers, and families for mental and emotional well-being.
National Mental Health Programme NMHP: A program implemented by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to address the burden of mental disorders in India.
District Mental Health Programme DMHP: A component of the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) that provides support to States/UTs through the National Health Mission (NHM), including suicide prevention services and counselling in schools and colleges.
National Health Mission NHM: A centrally sponsored scheme of the Government of India that aims to improve healthcare access and outcomes, including support for the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP).
Ayushman Bharat School Health Wellness Programme: A program under the National Health Mission (NHM) that incorporates Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health as a dedicated module.
Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States MANAS: A national tele-mental health program launched to improve access to quality mental health counselling and care services in India.
Maharashtra: A state in India, specifically mentioned in the context of student suicides.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 123
ANSWERED ON 21/07/2025
Increase in Student Suicide Rate
123. Ms. Praniti Sushilkumar Shinde:
Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:
(a) whether the rate of suicide among students has increased a lot as per latest National Crime
Records Bureau (NCRB) Report, if so, the details thereof;
(b) the reasons due to which the Government failed to curb the increase in student suicides, despite
its educational reforms and mental health initiatives;
(c) the details of the concrete steps taken by the Government to address the mental health crisis in
schools, especially in States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh, which account for
one-third of student suicides;
(d) the reasons for not regulating coaching institutions in areas like Kota, where extreme academic
pressure is pushing students to suicide; and
(e) the details of steps taken by the Government to override this situation?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(Dr. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (e): National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) collects data on suicides from police recorded
suicide cases. Comprehensive analysis of the data related to the accidental deaths and suicides in the
country is published in the yearly Accidental Death & Suicide in India (ADSI) reports by National
Crime Record Bureau (NCRB). Year wise and State wise details of student suicides are available in
the ADSI reports which are accessible at https://ncrb.gov.in/accidental-deaths-suicides-in-india-year-
wise.html. As per ADSI 2022 student suicide accounted for 7.6% of the total suicide cases compared
to 8.0% in 2021, 8.2% in 2020. As per these Reports, there are various causes of suicides like
professional/career problems, sense of isolation, abuse, violence, family problems, mental disorders,
addiction to alcohol, financial loss, chronic pain etc.
To address the issue of suicide, the Government is taking multi-pronged measures and provides
psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and emotional well-being to avoid
incidences of suicide. An initiative of Ministry of Education, MANODARPAN, covers a wide range
of activities to provide psychological support to students, teachers and families for mental and
emotional well-being such as National toll-free helpline that has been extending guidance to callers
through trained counsellor; and live interactive sessions ‘Sahyog’ and Webinars ‘Paricharcha’ that
are organized regularly to create awareness about the importance of mental health among allstakeholders, students in all States/UTs including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh.
These sessions are telecast on PM e-Vidya channels and are also available on ‘NCERT Official’
YouTube Channel.
To address the burden of mental disorders, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is
implementing the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP) in the country. The District Mental
Health Programme (DMHP) component of the NMHP has been sanctioned for implementation in 767
districts for which support is provided to States/UTs through the National Health Mission (NHM).
One of the objectives of DMHP includes to provide suicide prevention services, work place stress
management, life skills training and counselling in schools and colleges.
Ayushman Bharat School Health & Wellness Programme under NHM incorporates “Emotional
Wellbeing and Mental Health” as a dedicated module. Health and Wellness Ambassadors (Teachers)
are trained on mental health along with other thematic areas of the programme to support and provide
awareness to school children on mental health and well-being.
A “National Tele Mental Health Programme” has been launched in 2022, to improve access to
quality mental health counselling and care services in the country. As on today, 36 States/ UTs have
set up 53 Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States (MANAS) Cells. More than
23.80 lakhs calls have been handled on the helpline number. The Government has also launched Tele
MANAS Mobile Application on the occasion of World Mental Health Day - October 10, 2024.
UGC issued advisory to HEIs on 06.01.2023 regarding the National Suicide Prevention Strategy
framed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. UGC has issued Guidelines for Promotion of
Physical Fitness, Sports, Student’s Health, Welfare, Psychological and Emotional Well- being at
HEIs on 13.04.2023.
The Ministry on 10.07.2023 has also circulated a broad framework for emotional and mental well-
being of students in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) with request to take proactive measures to
incorporate the same in the institutional functioning and instil a feeling of confidence in the student
community. Accordingly, IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Gandhinagar and IIT Roorkee
have conducted workshops on Mental Wellness & Stress Management.
Department of Higher Education initiated the Integrated approach for Promoting Positive Mental
Health, Resilience, and Wellbeing under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme. It
comprises online and in-person sessions, visits to institutions with innovative mental health practices,
and an Annual National Wellbeing Conclave. The goal is to empower faculty to address student
mental health concerns for early intervention.
Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centers have been issued by Ministry of Education to
States/UTs on 16.01.2024 for consideration by way of appropriate legal framework. This has been
followed up with another letter to the States/ UTs on 16.07.2024. The Guidelines encompass several
key aspects, including laying emphasis on significance of mental well-being, advocating for the
prioritization of counsellors and psychologists' support within coaching centres; no batch segregation;
maintenance of records etc.
Moreover, education being in the concurrent list, Centre and States are equally responsible to address
this issue.
***