Postmortem confirms suicide, medico’s death highlights mental health crisis

Nagpur: The postmortem examination confirmed that the death of Ritwik Sagar Thakur (26), a resident doctor at Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur, was a case of suicide, ruling out any foul play. Clarifying concerns over blood stains found on his hands, GMCH doctors said the marks were caused by bleeding from the nose following asphyxiation, and not due to any external injury.Thakur was found dead in a city hotel just six days after joining postgraduate residency, an incident that once again brought into sharp focus the mental health challenges faced by medical professionals. The tragedy renewed calls for stronger psychological support systems and safer work environments for young medicos. GMCH doctors said Thakur was under mental stress, though no specific reason or trigger has been identified.Central MARD general secretary Dr Suyash Dhavane said the association also conducted its own inquiry into the incident but found no trigger within the campus that could push Thakur to take the drastic step. "We found that he was happy after securing a seat in the ophthalmology department. He did not show any alarming signs. There was also no apparent pressure from faculty members or seniors," Dr Dhavane said. However, he added that while harassment or academic pressure from seniors was ruled out, peer pressure remains a significant cause of mental stress among medical students. "We are running several initiatives to support medical students and help them cope with stress," he said.GMCH dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye said the institute prioritises mental health and student wellbeing. Gajbhiye said a dedicated counselling cell under the ‘Chhatra Manas Yojana' has been started, providing support to resident doctors and undergraduate students. "Students are assisted through counselling and mental wellbeing initiatives. The system is functional, and anyone in need can approach us," he said, adding that efforts are underway to further strengthen awareness and access to these services.Thakur, a resident of Buldhana district, secured admission to the postgraduate ophthalmology programme at GMCH and formally joined on January 27. Thakur worked under a unit headed by Dr Dilip Kumare and temporarily stayed at a hotel near the Ganeshpeth bus stand, as a hostel room was yet to be allotted to him. On Monday, when he failed to report to the college, Dr Umre contacted his father after repeated attempts to reach Thakur on his phone failed.The hotel management was subsequently alerted, and when staff received no response from his room, the police were informed. Ganeshpeth police broke open the door and found Thakur hanging inside the room. A case was registered, and further inquiries are underway to ascertain the circumstances leading to his death. No suicide note has been found so far.The incident shook the medical fraternity in Nagpur. Last year, two medical students from AIIMS Nagpur died by suicide. Samruddhi Pandey, a 25-year-old postgraduate dermatology student, was found dead in her rented apartment in Mihan in November, while MBBS intern Sanket Dabhade (22) died by suicide in his hostel room on the campus in August. Together, these incidents intensified concerns over the mental health burden faced by medical students and resident doctors.