Student suicide deaths in India: 5 states account for half of national total, study reveals

Student suicides in India: Between 2013 and 2022, NCRB recorded around 1.04 lakh student suicides, a 64 percent increase over the prior decade from 2003-12. (Illustration by Suneesh K for Moneycontrol)

The incidence of student suicides surpassed both population growth rates and overall suicide trends. Over the last decade, while the population of 0-24-year-olds reduced from 582 million to 581 million, the number of student suicides increased from 6,654 to 13,044, according to a report shared with Moneycontrol.

Throughout the last 20-year and 10-year periods, the population of 0–24-year-olds has grown 0.2 percent and -0.02 percent respectively, and student suicides exhibited a compounded annual growth rate of 4 percent and 4 percent respectively, as per the ‘Student Suicides: An Epidemic Sweeping India’ report by the IC3 Movement.

The 2022 National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report recorded a total of 13,044 student suicides, representing an insignificant decrease of 0.3 percent from the previous year's numbers. However, over the last decade (2013-22), around 1.04 lakh student suicides were recorded, a 64 percent increase compared to the prior decade (2003-12).

The southern states and union territories of India — namely Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep – continue to report the highest proportion of all student suicides across the nation at 29 percent.

State-wise, Maharashtra reported the highest number of student suicides at 1,764, followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,416 suicides, Madhya Pradesh with 1,340, Uttar Pradesh with 1,060, and Jharkhand with 824. Remarkably, these five states together account for 49 percent of the total student suicide cases in the country.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu and Jharkhand counts indicate high year-on-year (YoY) increase in student suicides, 14 percent and 15 percent respectively.

Rajasthan, with the Kota coaching city, is ranked tenth with 571 student suicides.

Student suicides high in males

In 2022, male students constituted 53 percent of the total student suicides. Between 2021 and 2022, male student suicides decreased by 6 percent while female student suicides increased by 7 percent. Over the past decade from 2012, male student suicides surged 99 percent and female student suicides jumped 92 percent.

However, the report highlighted that comprehensive and accurate data collection, recording, and reporting are imperative for transgender students, as their specific situation remains underrepresented in the data.

Over the last two decades, both male and female student suicides continue to have experienced substantial percentage increases, particularly evident when observing the data in five-year intervals.

It is important to note that student suicides constitute 7.6 percent of the total suicides in 2022, a notable increase from the previous eight years when they accounted for 5.6 percent of the total.

Suicide prevention helplines.