{
  "id": 19137455,
  "title": "Why listening to students’ voices is crucial to tackling the student suicide crisis in India",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/why-listening-to-students-voices-is-crucial-to-tackling-the-student-19137455",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-11-09T10:34:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu - Sci-Tech",
    "slug": "the-hindu-sci-tech",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/why-listening-to-students-voices-is-crucial-to-tackling-the-student-suicide-crisis-in-india/article71660266.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The suicide crisis among students in India is a pressing issue that demands urgent attention. One key aspect to addressing this crisis is actively listening to students' voices, as their insights can provide invaluable guidance for implementing effective solutions.\n\nIn a recent incident, a student's declining presence in class led teachers to label her absenteeism as a misconduct. This perception, coupled with the parents' acknowledgement of her 'indiscipline', inadvertently reinforced the notion that she was a 'bad student'. The situation escalated when her withdrawal and silence prompted parents to seek assistance from a tertiary mental healthcare center, where she was ultimately labeled as 'abnormal' and in need of psychiatric treatment for depression.\n\nThe use of stigmatizing terms such as 'abnormal' and 'bad student' can have detrimental effects on students' well-being and mental health. Rather than fostering an environment of support and understanding, these labels can perpetuate the very issues they aim to address. By failing to recognize and validate students' experiences, educational institutions inadvertently contribute to the growing student suicide crisis in India.\n\nTo effectively tackle this crisis, it is crucial to prioritize the voices of students in decision-making processes. By creating safe spaces for open dialogue, schools can encourage students to share their struggles and concerns without fear of judgment or repercussions. Implementing mental health awareness programs and providing accessible resources can help destigmatize mental health issues and promote a culture of empathy and understanding.\n\nMoreover, involving students in the development and implementation of policies and initiatives related to mental health can empower them to become active agents of change within their own educational environments. By listening to their perspectives, educators can gain valuable insights into the unique challenges faced by students and tailor support systems accordingly.\n\nIn conclusion, addressing the student suicide crisis in India requires a multi-faceted approach that centers on listening to students' voices. By fostering an inclusive and supportive atmosphere, promoting mental health awareness, and actively involving students in decision-making processes, educational institutions can take significant strides towards preventing suicides and ensuring the well-being of their students.",
  "summary": "In tackling student distress, institutions must centre students’ lived experiences by ensuring their direct representation on all institutional committees, so that systemic solutions are valid and sustainable",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}