India Student Suicides in 2024: India saw a worrying rise in student suicides in 2024. The number went up to 14,488, which is the highest level so far and 4.3% more than 2023. At the same time, the total number of suicides in the country came down a little, to 1,70,746 in 2024 from 1,71,418 in 2023, a drop of 0.4%. Even with that small fall, the bigger picture still looks bad because total suicides have climbed 11.6% in five years and almost 28% in ten years.
Diet Coke Returns To India In Glass Bottles After Months Of Can Shortage Across Markets
More Students are being Affected
The share of students in all suicide cases also went up. In 2024, students made up 8.5% of total suicides, compared with 8.1% in 2023, 8.2% in 2020, and 6.7% in 2015. The rise has been sharp over time. Student suicides were up 15.7% in the past five years and 62.2% since 2015, when the number was 8,934.
The report also says 1,15,850 students died by suicide between 2015 and 2024. Out of the 14,488 student deaths in 2024, 7,669 were boys and 6,819 were girls. Maharashtra had the most cases at 13.2%, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 10.9%, Madhya Pradesh at 10%, and Tamil Nadu at 8.9%.
Experts are worried
Among students, the biggest group of cases was among those educated up to class 10 at 25.6%, followed by class 12 at 18.3% and middle school students at 17.7%. The main reasons behind suicides in 2024 were family problems at 33.5%, illness at 17.9%, and drug or alcohol abuse at 7.6%.
Failure in examinations was 1.2%, while unemployment was 1.5%. Experts say the rise is tied to academic pressure, mental health problems, and weak support systems. They are pushing for school-level counselling, early help, and better awareness of helpline numbers so students can get support sooner.
Gold, and Silver Rate Today in India: Citywise Gold Prices Fall, Silver Jumps to Rs 2.75 Lakh/kg
Dr Om Prakash of IHBAS, Delhi, said students often face exam stress, heavy competition, parental pressure, career fear, and social media stress, but many are also dealing with deeper mental health problems that are not found in time. Ganesh Kohli of the IC3 Movement said teachers and parents should learn to spot early signs of trouble and create spaces where students feel safe asking for help.
