IIT Bombay, Kota, Cornell, NYU: Are ‘anti-suicide’ fans, nets enough to prevent student suicides?
A box of wall-mounted fans arrives at a Mumbai hostel, sparking a national debate about hostel infrastructure and student mental health. IIT Bombay's decision to replace ceiling fans with wall-mounted units in its hostels is seen as a reaction to the death of a second-year BTech student, Sahil Wakode, who died by suicide in late September.
The fans are criticized as 'Band-Aid measures' by many. The Kota suicide crisis, which saw 25 students die by suicide in 2023, saw the administration order the installation of spring-loaded 'anti-suicide' fans and nets around balconies and lobbies. Rajasthan's committee blamed mental pressure, competition, parental expectations, lack of counselling, and monotony for the crisis.
Cornell University followed a similar path after a series of student suicides in 2009-10, installing permanent barriers and fencing on bridges and cliffs after recommendations from consultants. Harvard's 'Means Matter' guidelines suggest restricting access to lethal means as one strategy within a comprehensive approach, but experts warn that such measures are not a solution in themselves.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
