34% students felt like outsiders, 9% face suicidal thoughts, as per NTF survey

A nationwide survey commissioned by a Supreme Court-appointed panel reveals concerning mental health statistics among students in higher education institutions. The survey, which polled over 2.43 lakh students, found that 34 percent of respondents felt like outsiders on campus to some degree. Additionally, 15 percent of students reported experiencing periods of overwhelming or distress in the past six months, while 9 percent admitted to having suicidal thoughts at least occasionally within the last year.

The survey's findings are expected to form part of the final report by the National Task Force (NTF), set to be submitted by October 31. The NTF has been tasked with addressing student mental health issues, recommending preventive measures to reduce suicides, and strengthening support systems across educational institutions.

Clinical psychologist Shweta Sharma highlighted the limited emotional expression allowed within institutions such as IITs and IIMs. She noted that 60-70 percent of her patients are from these institutions, struggling with social and relationship issues despite possessing high IQs and performance. The student-to-counsellor ratio remains inadequate, Sharma emphasized.

The student-to-counsellor ratio is insufficient, Sharma pointed out. The survey also revealed that only 56 percent of students trust their institutions to handle serious issues fairly, while 32 percent claimed their institute did not offer counselling services. Educationist Suparna Diwakar stressed the importance of human connection, particularly in large institutions where students often feel isolated transitioning from school to college.