‘Student suicides a warning for nation’s future’

Lucknow: Sarojininagar MLA Rajeshwar Singh on Monday expressed concern over the rising number of student suicides in the country.

Citing National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, Singh said 14,488 students died by suicide across India in 2024. He described the figures as “a serious warning for the future of the nation”.

He said the crisis points to mounting psychological pressure, academic stress, loneliness, fear of failure, cyber harassment and unrealistic expectations faced by students in an increasingly competitive environment shaped by artificial intelligence, automation and social media comparisons.

Singh stressed that academic marks alone should not determine a child’s worth and called for a more balanced education system. He said countries such as Japan, South Korea, Finland, Australia and the United Kingdom had already prioritised youth mental health and holistic education models.

Appealing to parents, Singh said children require emotional security and encouragement rather than constant performance pressure. He also urged schools and colleges to strengthen counselling systems and promote activities such as sports, arts, debates, yoga and meditation as integral parts of education.

Addressing students directly, he said a single examination or failure should never be viewed as the end of life.