Rising Suicides Among Intermediate Students: A Call for Immediate Reforms

Advocate Rapolu Bhaskar has filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Telangana High Court, addressing the alarming issue of suicides among intermediate students in the state. This PIL comes in the wake of several tragic incidents of students taking their own lives, primarily due to academic pressures, mental health issues, and a lack of adequate support from educational institutions and authorities.

The Alarming Situation: A Surge in Student Suicides

The issue of suicides among intermediate students has reached crisis levels in Telangana, with many students falling victim to intense academic pressure, social expectations, and personal struggles. According to statistics, over 50 students have died by suicide in the past year alone, and many cases remain unresolved or misunderstood.

While the reasons behind each suicide may be unique, the common threads that bind many of these tragic events are the pressure to perform academically, the overwhelming stress related to exams and competitive assessments, and the lack of emotional support available for students during these challenging years.

Key Concerns Highlighted in the PIL

In his PIL, Advocate Rapolu Bhaskar has highlighted the following major issues contributing to the growing number of student suicides:

1. Excessive Academic Pressure: One of the most significant causes of student suicides is the overwhelming academic pressure. Intermediate students are often burdened with the expectation to perform exceptionally well in exams, particularly due to the emphasis placed on entrance exams for higher education. This pressure, combined with high competition, causes severe stress, anxiety, and in some cases, leads students to believe that failure is not an option.
2. Mental Health Issues and Lack of Support: Despite the rising awareness of mental health, educational institutions in Telangana still lack adequate infrastructure to support students’ mental well-being. Most schools and colleges do not have qualified counselors or psychologists, and students often have nowhere to turn when they feel overwhelmed. Bhaskar points out that mental health services are not just a luxury but a necessity for the proper development of students.
3. Parental and Societal Expectations: Many students face tremendous pressure from their families to perform well academically, often with little regard for their emotional or mental health. The societal obsession with success and the stigma surrounding failure contribute to a toxic environment for young students, who may feel that their value is entirely tied to academic achievements.
4. Failure of Educational Institutions: Bhaskar’s PIL stresses that the responsibility for preventing suicides does not lie solely with the students or their families, but also with the educational institutions. He has criticized the lack of proactive measures taken by colleges and schools to address the mental health crisis. Institutions often focus solely on academic performance without taking into account the emotional and psychological needs of students.
5. Social Media and Peer Pressure: The influence of social media is another critical factor. Many students, particularly in the age group of 16-18, are influenced by the constant comparisons made on social platforms. The need to present a “perfect” life and success on social media often exacerbates feelings of inadequacy, leading to mental distress.

Relief Sought in the PIL

Through his PIL, Advocate Bhaskar is seeking the following interventions from the Telangana High Court to address the growing suicide crisis among intermediate students:

1. Mandatory Mental Health Support in Educational Institutions: Bhaskar requests that the court direct the state government and educational institutions to establish mandatory counseling and mental health support services. Schools and colleges should be required to employ qualified counselors or psychologists to support students, especially during examination seasons or high-pressure periods.
2. Implementation of Anti-Stress and Well-being Programs: The PIL calls for the introduction of anti-stress programs, workshops, and wellness initiatives in schools and colleges to help students cope with academic pressure. Bhaskar suggests that institutions should promote mindfulness, meditation, time management skills, and relaxation techniques as part of the curriculum to ease the mental strain on students.
3. Parental Awareness and Responsibility: Bhaskar urges the court to order the government to initiate awareness campaigns aimed at parents to help them understand the importance of emotional support and the mental well-being of their children. These campaigns should focus on guiding parents to avoid pushing their children excessively and to recognize signs of distress in their kids.
4. Review of the Education System: Advocate Bhaskar advocates for a thorough review of the state’s education system, especially the intermediate curriculum, to reduce academic pressure. The PIL suggests that the government should explore alternative evaluation methods, such as continuous assessments, project-based learning, and less emphasis on high-stakes exams, which can be a source of severe stress for students.
5. Formation of a State Suicide Prevention Task Force: The PIL calls for the establishment of a dedicated task force, including mental health professionals, educators, and government officials, to address student suicides specifically. This body should be responsible for tracking student mental health, creating supportive policies, and ensuring that mental health resources are accessible to all students.
6. Suicide Prevention Training for Teachers and Staff: Advocate Bhaskar has also called for the government to train teachers, school staff, and administrators to identify signs of mental distress in students. Teachers should be equipped with the knowledge to intervene and provide appropriate help to students showing signs of emotional or psychological challenges.

Legal and Ethical Concerns

Advocate Bhaskar’s PIL raises serious concerns about the failure of the education system to address the emotional and psychological well-being of students. The legal responsibility of the state, as well as educational institutions, is to ensure that students are not only provided with academic knowledge but also with the necessary mental health resources to cope with the pressures of modern education.

The PIL emphasizes that while academic success is important, it should never come at the cost of students’ lives. Bhaskar asserts that the state and educational institutions must take proactive steps to protect students from the devastating consequences of unaddressed mental health issues.

Conclusion: A Cry for Compassionate Reforms

Advocate Rapolu Bhaskar’s PIL is a timely and urgent call for reforms to prevent further tragedies related to student suicides in Telangana. It highlights the need for a more compassionate and student-centric education system, where the emotional and mental well-being of students is prioritized alongside their academic performance.

By seeking judicial intervention, Bhaskar hopes to create a comprehensive support system for students, reduce academic pressure, and prevent further loss of young lives. The Telangana High Court’s involvement in this issue could be a landmark step in reforming the educational landscape to ensure that students receive the necessary support to thrive both academically and emotionally.

In the end, Bhaskar’s PIL is a plea to protect the future of the state—its students—by ensuring they receive the care and guidance they deserve to navigate their academic journey without fear, stress, or isolation.