In India today, every eight minutes, a young life is lost to suicide. It is a silent and growing epidemic which is impossible to ignore any further. The latest NCRB data reports the highest ever recorded figure of 1.71 lakh deaths by suicide. Alarmingly, 41 per cent of these deaths are of young Indians under 30 years of age. This devastating crisis of youth suicide is a major public policy and social challenge for India.
There has been an alarming rise in suicide amongst the youth. During 2018-2022, the recoded incidence of suicide increased by 27 per cent. Of these deaths, the young and the middle aged are disproportionately affected, as they constitute 67 per cent of all deaths by suicide which is the leading cause of death in this age-group. Within this group the rise in student suicides is even more concerning. The number of student suicides doubled in the last decade and it increased alarmingly at 4 per cent annually, double the growth rate of overall suicide in India, which is highly concerning. These are not just statistics; it reflects dreams cut short, families devastated, casting an eclipse over India’s demographic dividend.
In a developing country like India, where 67 per cent of the households earn less than Rs. 5 lakh per annum, the students bear the brunt of intergenerational family expectations as a means of social mobility. The intense competition for limited seats in prestigious institutions coupled with relentless academic pressure is further compounded by parental and societal expectations. The Indian Journal of Psychiatry reports that over 60 per cent of student suicides are linked to academic stress and fear of failure. This is because of the social environment wherein grades and academic performance becomes the sole measure of worth. This academic pressure cooker environment, where success is narrowly defined by grades and college admissions, have created a toxic culture of stress and anxiety among students, leading to suicidal thoughts, is also confirmed by NCRB reports.
The transition from academics to workforce is also not easy. Long working hours, toxic work culture, unrealistic deadlines and job insecurity is distressing and lead to chronic stress. A survey by Deloitte found that 47 per cent of the individuals reported work place stress as their biggest mental health challenge. Further, an ASSOCHAM study reveals that 45 per cent of the individuals feel disconnected from their colleagues at work place for the lack in meaningful relationships. This leads to a scenario wherein the young professionals hesitate to reach out for help fearing career repercussions and stigma. This results in rising cases of anxiety, depression and suicide even among those who are gainfully employed.
There is another reason why the youth – students and academic professionals – develop stress and anxiety. The roots of this crisis of growing loneliness are deeply embedded in our rapidly changing social fabric, the erosion in traditional support systems which once helped young people navigate life challenges. This pervasive loneliness is exacerbated by increasing nuclearisation of family and migration to cities in search of better opportunities. This limits the opportunities of meaningful social interaction and geographical separation from their social network support. The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs reports 40 per cent increase in single-person households in metropolitan cities over the last decade, leading to towered loneliness. The NFHS-5 reveals that 28 per cent of youth experience frequent feeling of loneliness and social disconnect. Studies have further found that 60 per cent youth of 22-years age feel lonely and 17 per cent of urban adolescents feel persistent loneliness. These young individuals find themselves alone in a crowd with no outlet until it becomes unbearable. NCRB data highlights that 35 per cent of total suicide is among the youth with isolation and loneliness as leading contributing factors.
It is paradoxical that India’s hyper-connected and urban society is making our youth lonely. The increased reliance on digital connections is replacing a meaningful face-to-face interaction which is further exacerbating the situation. These online relationships are often superficial and fail to fulfil the basic human desire of belonging and genuine connection. The Indian Journal of Psychiatry reports that excessive social media use among Indian youth is associated with increased loneliness. There is an added pressure of maintaining a good online image in addition to the fear of social rejection is again stressful. Adding to it, the online harms and cyber bullying cause further psychological tension. NCPCR reports a significant increase in the cases of cyber bullying with victims experiencing severe distress.
The death of a young individual is not only a personal tragedy but one that robs India of its demographic dividend, the immense potential and the energy that drives its growth and fuels its future. The recent Union Economic Survey also elucidates that India’s development rests on the mental well-being of its youth. There are direct economic
To address this crisis of youth suicide in India, there is a need to move beyond analysis to action. A multi-dimensional whole of society and whole of government approaches must be adopted combining public policy measures, community-driven approaches and institutional changes across education, health, media and technology, urban design and governance, social and healthcare support systems, and the corporate work culture supporting the well-being of the youth comprehensively. Loneliness, mental health and suicide prevention shall become an important priority for all the stakeholders by acting on it to comprehensively overcome this burgeoning problem.
India’s youth are its greatest asset. Confronting this “silent epidemic” of youth suicide with urgency and empathy is not just about preventing deaths, it’s about appreciating the value of every young life and ensuring that no one drowns in the hollows of loneliness and despair. The time to act is now – to replace silence and stigma with support and solutions, and to help our youth not just live, but truly thrive. Then only India will be able to truly crowd-in its demographic dividend.
Avinash Pandey, IRS is Deputy Commissioner of Customs & Indirect Taxes in Ludhiana.