Student suicides in India have become a pressing concern, with over 13,044 reported cases in 2022, accounting for 7.6% of all suicides in the country. The prime triggers behind this could be academic pressure, competition coupled with huge expectations from the institute, loneliness and isolation, and parental pressure.

The dark web is rising in India, and can facilitate access to harmful content, including pro-suicide forums and resources. Those energies are negatively impacting students. 

However, there is a strange stigma about mental health in the country. While people are willing to talk about their physicial illnesses, something like depression is considered "mentally unstable" and the public prefers to brush it under the carpet. However, chronic depression can also be affected by an underlying illness such as thyroid disease, low vitamin B levels or chemical imbalances in the brain such as a low serotonin level, which if left untreated leads to a major depressive disoder that triggers a suicide as the last resort.

Prevention is better than an accident, thus, either parent and teachers need to be alert and educated about the signs of depression: Depression is a complex mental health disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in activities, and here are some common signs and symptoms to discern them:

- Persistent sadness: Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless most of the day
- Loss of interest: Losing interest in activities, hobbies, or things that were once enjoyable
- Mood swings: Experiencing irritability, frustration, or anxiety
- Guilt or shame: Feeling guilty, worthless, or ashamed
- Changes in appetite: Increased or decreased appetite, leading to weight gain or loss
- Sleep disturbances: Insomnia (difficulty sleeping) or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping)
- Fatigue: Feeling tired, lethargic, or lacking energy
- Physical pain: Experiencing headaches, back pain, or other physical discomforts
- Social withdrawal: Avoiding social interactions, friends, and family
- Loss of motivation: Struggling to complete tasks, meet deadlines, or maintain responsibilities
- Self-care neglect: Neglecting personal hygiene, grooming, or self-care activities
- Risk-taking death wish behaviors: Engaging in reckless or impulsive behaviors
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Negative thoughts.
- Memory problems.
- Increased irritability, restlessness, and thoughts of death or suicide

When these red flags wave, it's time to seek professional help from a mental health expert. Unfortunately, not many will notice these signs nor will any parent, teacher, or institute take a troubled child to a psychologist. 

To address this crisis, the government has launched several initiatives such as the National Mental Health Policy to improve mental health infrastructure and raise awareness within educational institution
- the  Manodarpan Initiative: Provides psychological support to students through a national toll-free helpline and dedicated website resources.
- Tele-MANAS: Offers 24/7 free tele-mental health services.
- Task Force: Established by the Supreme Court to address student mental health concerns and prevent suicides in higher educational institutions.

It is crucial that schools and colleges heed to the urgency of this matter and ensure accessible counseling, hire psychologists on campus and establish peer support programs in educational institutions, promote a supportive environment and address the root causes of distress, integrate mindfulness and coping strategies into the curriculum and enforce strict anti-ragging measures and establish preventive rules clearly to protect students in hostels.

The Urgent Need of Psychologists in Education Institutes:

Psychologists can play a critical role in providing support and guidance, help address the unique needs of these students. It is not uncommon to find a girl or a boy die by suicide due to unrequitted love or a love affair, parental pressure, family problems or academic failure because the issue is so weighty in their mind. By supporting students'  emotions and thought process,  psychologists can help them to perceive them positively, and creatively to enable them to reach their full potential. 

Psychologists are unsung heroes in the lives of troubled students, particularly those affected by domestic violence. These professionals provide a safe haven for young minds to navigate the complex emotions and trauma resulting from physical or verbal abuse. They help unravel the complexities of their feelings and develop coping strategies, connect with local support services, counseling, and therapy, and build resilience: Develop the skills and confidence to overcome adversity.

By recognizing the importance of psychologists in educational institutions, we can work towards creating a more supportive and nurturing environment for students to thrive.