9% of students report suicidal thoughts: SC-appointed panel survey

A nationwide survey conducted by the Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force has revealed concerning mental health trends among students in higher education institutions. According to the survey findings, 15% of students experienced periods in the past six months when they felt overwhelmed or distressed, while 9% reported experiencing suicidal thoughts during the same period.

The survey, which drew responses from over 2.43 lakh students—67% of whom belonged to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes categories—also found that approximately 34% of respondents reported feeling like an outsider on campus to varying degrees. The findings assume added significance following renewed debate on student suicides after deaths at IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay sparked widespread outrage. The National Task Force's interim report had previously documented deep-rooted issues in higher education institutions, including social discrimination, sexual harassment in engineering and medical colleges, gender discrimination by faculty, caste-based humiliation, and discrimination in admission and grading processes.

The survey findings are expected to be included in the National Task Force's final report, which is scheduled to be submitted by October 31, 2026. The task force was constituted to examine student suicides and address mental health concerns of students in higher educational institutions.