By: Dr. Satyavan Saurabh
Actually, in this era, the entire young generation is troubled by terrible mental illness; especially student deviation has become a matter of serious concern. In our country, more than 15 out of every 100 students are being affected by suicide. They are found to be suffering from depression, anxiety, and self-harm. There is increasing tension regarding tough competition and discipline in studies etc., due to which the concern of not only the people associated with the education system but also the entire society is increasing. Family pressure, academic stress, and ambition to top studies have thrown a large section of students into deep mental depression.
Children who do not fulfill their parents’ dreams and perform poorly in exams have to be beaten at home. Under the pressure of exams and results, suicides of students are now becoming a common occurrence. Mental stress has become the most common factor behind the exponential increase in student suicides. The graph of suicides of stressed students is increasing. As the exam days approach, the stress of the students starts going beyond limits. The entire young generation facing such situations during examination days has now become a matter of serious concern for the country, society, parents, and educationists. Till now, we have not been able to overcome many basic serious problems and challenges that have been prevalent in the education sector for decades.
Indian students face immense stress to compete and perform since competitive examinations have been made mandatory for admission to professional courses. The inability to handle pressure to perform, meet parental expectations, and achieve aspirations can lead to psychological distress and later depression. The constant pursuit of academic excellence in the modern education system has inadvertently created an environment of intense pressure and competition among students. The excessive focus on academic achievement coupled with societal expectations and fear of failure has had a significant impact on the mental health of students. This has contributed to the increase in mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and stress. Given the increasing competition, many times there is constant pressure on students to perform well. They compare themselves to others and aggressively strive for perfection. This underlying pressure can manifest in various forms of mental distress, including anxiety, fear of failure, and low self-esteem. In severe cases, mental health problems can lead to self-harm, and may even lead to thoughts of suicide attempts.
The mental development of children is being hindered due to the heavy burden of competitive courses. Children are suffering huge losses due to this. A major reason for stress in the lives of children is that after long school hours, children start completing their homework as soon as they return home. After this, they run for tuition. Eating, drinking, sleeping, sports, everything becomes prohibited. They do not get time to relax and do other extra-curricular activities. In such a situation, there is less sleep and a state of depression or severe stress for the students.
In the present competitive era, cases of student suicide are continuously increasing. Exam-centric education, comparing academic excellence with the pressure of marks, studies, and performance are the key factors behind this depression in student suicides in India. A simple interview with any student preparing for any competitive exam in India, be it JEE, NEET, or CLAT, will reveal that the major source of mental distress among students is the unbearable amount of pressure placed on them by almost every Is inserted by one. Every teacher and every relative reiterates the importance of studying hard and getting admission to a good college. While spontaneous inquiries about what the student aspires to do after graduating from school, or where his or her interests lie, are rarely undertaken.
The highly complex nature of all these exams (not all) essentially means that to crack them, parents have to fulfill their dream of getting their children admitted to prestigious coaching centers, making it difficult for the student in more ways than one. The problem increases as he is now under increased pressure to clear the examination to repay the money spent by his parents on coaching and he also has to face the additional pressures of the coaching institute. Unless this evil system is eliminated from the examination culture of the country, no visible change will be seen in terms of curbing the suicide rate among students. The government should take cognizance of this issue if we think that “today’s children are tomorrow’s future. Forced career choices lead many students to succumb to a tremendous amount of pressure, especially from their families and teachers regarding their career choices and studies. Educational institutions are not equipped to deal with the mental health issues of children and adolescents due to a lack of support and a lack of centers and trained human resources for guidance and counseling.
In such difficult times, there is a great need to study afresh the nature and tendency of suicide among students, because the entire young intellectual property of the country is at stake, which will have far-reaching serious consequences that will bring deep worry on the forehead of the entire nation. Can. The entire structure of developmental progress established on the shoulders of the youth may collapse. Students should take it as a challenge and face it with full potential.
Examination is not a question of life and death. Instead of considering exam results as the ultimate basis of life, one has to create one’s path to success. Without hard work, there is no success in any field of life. Parents have to understand how they should behave with their children at home. Tackling the increasing prevalence of mental health issues among students requires a multidimensional approach that involves individuals, institutions, and society as a whole. Redefining success and encouraging students to pursue their passions and interests is essential to promoting their mental health and well-being. Moving beyond a narrow definition of success based only on academic achievements allows students to explore their unique talents and find fulfillment in their chosen path.
Teachers should be trained as gatekeepers and innovative methods of examination should be adopted to reduce the risk factors of suicide. There is a need to appreciate the students and it is important to change how the Indian society views education. It should be a celebration of efforts and not marks. Effective counselling centers should be set up in all schools/colleges/coaching centers to address the anxieties, depression, and other mental health issues of the students. To address the growing crisis, there is a need to learn from past failures and take immediate steps involving all stakeholders – students, parents, teachers, institutions, and policy makers.
