The number of student suicides in India has escalated sharply over the past decade, rising 65% from 8,423 in 2013 to 13,892 in 2023, according to the latest data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). The trend is alarmingly faster than the overall rise in suicides nationwide.

In 2023 alone, student suicides surged 34% compared to 2019, contributing to 8.1% of the total 1.71 lakh deaths by suicide that year. A decade ago, students accounted for just 6.2% of suicides, underscoring a growing crisis among India’s youth.

The NCRB data also highlights other vulnerable groups. Daily wage earners represented the largest share of suicides at 27.5%, followed by housewives at 14% and self-employed individuals at 11.8%.

Experts warn that the rising tide of student suicides points to mounting academic pressure, mental health struggles, and insufficient support systems, calling for urgent policy interventions and robust counseling initiatives in schools and colleges.