INDIAN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND REASERCH ,

MOHALI

RESEARCH REPORT
ON
‘ EXAMINING MENTAL HEALTH AND SUICIDE
IDEATION AMONG STUDENTS IN KERALA’S
COACHING CENTRES- A CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY’

EXEXUTED BY:
AMAL AZEEZ
MS21172
 Introduction

The Ministry of Education Department of Higher Education in Government of India has

introduced the "Guidelines for Registration and Regulation of Coaching Centre 2024"on 18
January. Based on this regul, I decided to do my field work in this area by conducting
research and survey on the mental well-being of NEET and JEE aspirants studying in
coaching centres all over the Kerala state.
According to the new rules, no private coaching institute of any state in the country will be
able to give admission to children of below 16 years old. The primary objectives of these
guidelines are to establish a framework for the registration and regulation of coaching
centres, recommend minimum standard requirements for their operation, protect the interests
of enrolled students, encourage a focus on co-curricular activities for holistic development,
and provide career guidance and psychological counselling for students mental well-being.
Kerala being the state with highest literacy of 94% as said by Minister of State Education
Annapurna Devi in 2024 undergoes severe competition in educational field especially in
competitive exams. Over a lakh students appeared for NEET exam in 2023 as per reports
of Hindustan Times

This prioritization on education especially in competitive examinations have increased the

number of coaching institutes. The high competition for limited seats puts the children in a
high pressure environment where they face enormous pressure to excel. This pressure results
in depression, anxiety, stress and several other mental issues among the students .Also the
number of suicides among NEET preparing students have hiked. According to the report of
Hindustan Times there have been 21 suicides among students preparing for competitive
exam in 2023 which is marked as highest in last years and that’s where Government’s new
guidelines comes for protection and rescue. So what may be the link between Mental Health
and Academic Stress?Academic Stress is usually gone undetected but is a growing
[Link] has indicated that adolescents are increasingly affected by academic
[Link] is also found that academic stress has increased somatic
syndromes,anxiety,depression,suicidal attempts and addictive habits amoung young
generation.

While talking about academic stress it can be of various kinds:-

One,most of the coaching centres have very strict atmosphere. And almost all children would
be studying for the first time staying away from [Link] the rules of coaching institute
would really be hard to comply with such as weekly once calling parents for a limited
time,restriction of mobile phone where they the students won’t be able to socialize or even
talk to friends or family even when feeling [Link] staying in hostels are also restricted
from going home and continuous pressure to study all the time puts the children in a very
pathetic [Link] of extra curricular activities and physical exercise is also another main
problem which may even result in poor posture,obesity,[Link] ,anxiety are the prizes
they receive by the time they complete the coaching.
Excessive workload and long study periods which results in lack of sleep,lack of proper food
making students both physically and mentally weak are some of the major reasons of
academic [Link] institute must be strict and well disciplined but not by risking students
physical and mental [Link] a report in The Hindu a professor have said that one of the
reason for lack of Kerala students making into IITs are because of absence of aggressive
coaching centres like in Kota and Hyderbad (The Hindu -November 17,2022 07:34
Kozhikode)So what does aggressive mean?
According to the report of Hindusthan times on jan 29,2024 with heading 18 year old
student dies by suicide in Kota,2 nd case this month and content containing statistics as
“fifteen students died by suicide in Kota in 2022, 18 in 2019, 20 in 2018 , seven in 2017, 17
in 2016 and 18 in [Link] suicides were reported in 2020 and 2021 as coaching institutes
were shut down or switched to online mode due to the Covid-19 pandemic.”
So what does this report explains?Whether it’s just the heavy load of the syllabus or the
aggressiveness of the institute?

Second is the lack of family [Link] is the backbone of everyone and when it comes
to children it’s always their [Link] one of the main issue our era faces now is parental
[Link] is a common belief that students who are opting science are brilliant and
commerce and humanities are for those who are backward in their [Link] inferiority
superiority exists in every Indian schools not just among parents,but also teachers and
[Link] want their children to be doctors and engineers and without checking on
their children’s strength in the particular subject or their interest of choice,parents just
pressure their demands on [Link] the child keeps on trying and when finds he/she can’t
do it or couldn’t clear the examinations,out of fear comes to a solution suicide.
Another case is where parents’ doesn’t support their children to pursue their dream to be a
doctor or an [Link] reason may be lack of money,can’t leave the child outside
hometown,some believe its only for extra brilliant and discourage their own children by
saying they are not capable of clearing competitive exams and as common marriage
[Link] are girls who study without any parental support because they are pressurised for
marriage or against a girl studying .What happens here is a student is always on a stressed
mode and neither could study nor could drop out putting the child in trauma.
Third is the [Link] can be from parents,relatives,teachers and even
[Link] kind of comparison can lead the child to negative thoughts such as he/she is
worthless,ignorant and even result in lack of confidence,low self-eteem [Link] child is
unique and his/her capabilities and strengths are different . Sometimes comparing and
belittling are done for creating competitiveness in students but it may not be same with every
students for some may take it in a persistence while some in complete negative sense .
STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Mental health occupies prime significance in the life of an individual . In the day-to-day life
of a student preparing for competitive examinations like the ones NEET and JEE, the
pressure is mounted from various quarters, from family,society, and the peer group as well.
Throughout the preparation period the students are made to go through hectic competition
and stress in their respective institutes through weekly exams , indiscriminate grading
system , long sessions, restriction on cell phones and lack of physical activities and extra
curricular fun time.
These factors proactively contributes to the increasing cases of depression, anxiety, stress and
suicides . In Indian city of Kota ,which is known to be the coaching hub of India , alone,
more than 25 suicides have been committed by students mainly due to the failure in exams.
Rest of the cities have different figure.
Hence, the study tends to understand and explore the severity of mental health issues among
students inseparable link with their well being and life with the help of scientific and
systematic method of analysis.

HYPOTHESES
 Many of students preparing in coaching institutes for competitive exams like NEET
and JEE are undergoing multiple mental health issues
 Most of them remains untreated and unheeded by the parents and Institute.
 Academic pressure and family pressures are key main determinants of depression and
anxiety among students

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

 Assess the prevalence of mental health issues among students enrolled in coaching
centers in Kerala.

 Identify common mental health issues shown by the students in the coaching

Centre environment.

 Assess the risk of suicide or suicidal ideation among students in coaching

Centre.

 Provide insights into potential interventions or strategies to enhance mental

Health support within coaching centers.

METHODOLOGY OF THE STUDY

The study is fundamentally based on the primary data collected through direct interview with
concerned persons. However , it is finely structured on quantitative form of study and
analysis. While, descriptive statistical methods to be used for the interpretation of data with
the support of data visualisation to enhance the net understanding of the research study. The
tools used for the study are enlisted below:

[Link]-demographic sheet

2. Self Rating Questionnaire- 20 developed by WHO

3. Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS)

SAMPLE SIZE
Expected sample to be taken : 200
Total samples taken : 199

UNIVERSE OF THE STUDY

The study is to analyze suicide ideation and mental health issues among students of age
group from 17 to 22 .Therefore the universe of the study is the NEET and JEE aspirants
undergoing coaching from various institutes.

PROCEDURE
The researcher made necessary arrangements prior to the field data collection from the host
Institute. Official sanction for the field research has been accessed from concerned authority.
Field visit has begun in various targeted Institutes in different districts. The responsible
authorities of Institute were conveyed and convinced of the significance of the study and
assured confidentiality of the data to be collected from them. Further, two sets of
questionnaire (COLUMBIA-SUICIDE SEVERITY RATING SCALE (C-SSRS and Self
reprting questionnaire) has been provided to students after briefly explaining the study and
the method of participation. Students were asked not mention their name and personal details
to avoid inaccurate and dishonest answer . Data is collected successfully though certain
objects were there from some institutes . Expected sample size has been covered. After the
data the collection, it is analyzed and sorted into tables, quantitative and qualitative data and
pie charts .Later the data report is being prepared on this basis.

SELF REPORTING QUESTIONNAIRE

The self reporting questionnaire (SRQ) has been developed by WHO as an instrument
designed to screen for psychiatric disturbance, especially in developing countries.

The SRQ consisting of 20 questions which have to be answered by yes or no. It may be used
either as a self- administered or an interview administered questionnaire. Various additional
questions are also being added with SRQ screen for psychiatric disorder and substance abuse.

The SRQ is quite helpful for a researcher in multifarious ways:

First of all it is a simple and objective scale, easy to evaluate, which covers many areas of
psychopathology

Secondly the question of instrument is written in a simple language which is easy to

understand. Only a brief training is required to use it properly.

Thirdly, it does not represent a great difficulty for the trainee or for the trainer making
evaluation of the students progress an easier task.
The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, or C-SSRS,

The Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, or C-SSRS, is a suicidal ideation and behavior
rating scale created by researchers at Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania,
University of Pittsburgh and New York University to evaluate suicide risk. It rates an
individual’s degree of suicidal ideation on a scale, ranging from “wish to be dead” to “active
suicidal ideation with specific plan and intent and behaviors.” Questions are phrased for use
in an interview format, but the C-SSRS may be completed as a self-report measure if
necessary. The scale also identifies specific behaviors which may be indicative of an
individual’s intent to kill oneself.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study on this topic signifies much relevance due to multiple factors like:-

➢ Steady rise in the cases of depression and suicide among students preparing for

competitive exams .

➢ Inadequate formal and informal mechanism to heed & redress these issues .

➢Shortcoming in implementation of several policies in this connection.

➢ Lack of scientific studies and research gap.

➢Apathy and negligence of the government towards the given social problem.

➢ This study overturns social stereotype that undervalues and negates mental health
disorder.

SUGGESTIONS
 1. The coaching institutes must be strictly put under the rules ,regulations and
instructions of the government.

2. Students must be made aware of the mental health support and facilities available for
them

3. Identify and treat the students suffering from mental health issues with the help of
counsellor and concerned physician.

4. To consistently ensure that the coaching institutes are not pressurising and
overburdening its students for academic works

5. To inculcate healthy competition, discussion and debates among students

6. To ensure no discrimination happens to the students on the basis of marks and

performance.

7. To promote extracurricular activities for students to release their academic stress.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

A number of works have seriously helped in the well framework of the research. Major such
works are given below:-

1- “Prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, attempts and its associated factors in selected
rural and urban areas of Puducherry, India” an article penned by Aakanksha Singh et
al. J Public Health (Oxf) justifies prevalance of suicidal ideation and suicide attempt
were very high in the study area. Unemployment, physical abuse and family issues
were significantly associated with suicidal behaviour . The Union Territory of
Puducherry has a high rate of suicide in India. This study aims to find the prevalence
of suicidal ideation, plan and suicide attempts and the risk factors of suicidal
behaviours.
2- “Psychological distress among college students of coastal district of Karnataka: A
community-based cross-sectional survey” written by Shinivasa Bhat U. a, Anekal C.
Amaresha b, Prabhath Kodancha a, Soyuz John , Shishir Kumar , Agneita Aiman ,
Praveen A. Jain , Anish V. Cherian explains the prevalance of psychological distress
was high among students, especially non-medical students, students who were staying
with their families, and those who were younger in age. A significant proportion of
students had suicidal ideation, which needs early mental health interventions at the
college level.

3- “Psychological distress among college students in Kerala, India—Prevalence and

correlates” authored by Jaisoorya TS a, Anjana Rani b, Priya G. Menon b, Jeevan CR
b, Revamma M b, Vineetha Jose b, Radhakrishnan KS b, Anupam Kishore c,
Thennarasu K d, Sivasankaran Nair B . The study signifies psychological distress is
common among college students owing to multiple challenges they encounter in
academics, social and personal life.

4- “Psychological distress among college students of coastal district of Karnataka: A

community-based cross-sectional survey” written by Shinivasa Bhat U. a, Anekal C.
Amaresha b, Prabhath Kodancha a, Soyuz John c, Shishir Kumar a, Agneita Aiman a,
Praveen A. Jain c, Anish V. Cherian believes that the common mental health disorders
are alarmingly increasing among college students in recent times, which have a
significant impact on their later stages of lives .

5- “Making mental health a priority on college campuses: implementing large scale

screening and follow-up in a high enrollment gateway course” authored by Flora-Jean
M. Forbes. The study is emphasized on evaluating universal mental health screening
program for undergraduate students using graduate student clinicians and online
interviewing tools.

6- “Effects of Mental Health on Student Learning” written by Ren VanderLind of Texas

University

7- MENTAL HEALTH IN COLLEGE STUDENTS: SUICIDAL BEHAVIORS AND

WELL-BEING AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH A MEASURE OF ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT written by Carolina Santillán T., Lourdes Eguiluz R., Mario Fausto
G., María Luisa P., Andrea Witt G., Lillian Claudett J. y Anabel de la Rosa G.
Universdad Nacional Autónoma de México is rhetoric of college graduation, retention
 and drop-out rates which it says are the issues of great concern to both government
and educational authorities. For example, the drop-out rate has been found related
to several factors: socioeconomic factors, a problem with the enrollment process, the
policy and institutional practices, and opportunities for access, among others
(Narro, Martuscelli and Barzani, 2012). Although at UNAM (Universidad Nacional
Autónoma de México) much research has been done to understand if attrition in
graduation and academic achievement are the best predictors of school performance
(Camarena, Chavez and Gomez, 1985), data from the National Association of
Universities and High Education Institutes (ANUIES) in Mexico, reported an average
graduation rate of 67.8% for the 2003-2004 period (ANUIES, 2006). 204,940 college
students were enrolled at UNAM in year 2015, FES Iztacala is one of six UNAM
campuses. Its Departments and Research Centers are related to Health Sciences.
In 2012, FES Iztacala had an enrollment of 13,912 students, of which 8,064 were
women and 4,115 men. Also, FES Iztacala has six Schools (Optometry, Nursing,
Medicine, Psychology, Dentistry and Biology). It has been found that students drop-
out the most during the first two semesters, and data by Dávila (2013), reports an
average drop-out rate of 43%. Among the factors related to drop-out rates on this
campus, the economic and health related reasons were among the most commonly
reported. Early pregnancies and a low availability for their chosen major are other
reasons why students leave school. Until the last 20 years, there has been few
research in Mexico investigating how psychosocial variables are associated with
drop-out rates and low academic achievement. These investigations are regarded as
innovative. They include variables such as mental health, social support, optimism
and resilience which in other countries have shown to be associated with academic
performance

8- “Addressing Mental Health Epidemic Among University Students via Web-based,

Self-Screening, and Referral System: A Preliminary Study” is a works that throws
light to the prevalence and severity of mental health problems in college and
university communities are alarming. However, the majority of students with mental
disorders do not seek help from professionals. To help students assess their mental
conditions and encourage them to take an active role in seeking care, we developed a
web-based self-screening, referral, and secure communication system and evaluated it
at the University of Washington for 17 months. The system handled more than 1000
screenings during the study period. Of the subjects who used the system, 75% noted
that the system helped them to make a decision to receive help from professionals.
 The system was able to provide outreach to students with mental health concerns
effectively, allow them to self-screen their conditions, and encourage them to receive
professional assistance.

9- “ College Students: Mental Health Problems and Treatment Considerations” written

by Paola Pedrelli,corresponding author Maren Nyer, Albert Yeung, Courtney Zulauf,
and Timothy Wilens states that mental health problems are very common among
college students . This may be due to the fact that attending college corresponds to a
challenging time for many traditional and non-traditional undergraduate students.
Traditional college students start college after completing high school, are typically
younger, depend on parents for financial support, and do not work or work part-time .
Thus, in addition to stress related to academic load, these students may have to face
the task of taking on more adult-like responsibilities without having yet mastered the
skills and cognitive maturity of adulthood. For example, many traditional college
students may face potentially stressful experiences for the first time including
working, being in a significant relationship that may lead to marriage, or having
housemates with cultures and belief systems different from their own [3]. Non-
traditional college students are often employed full-time, older, and may have
dependents other than their spouses . Thus, this group of students may have to cope
with meeting work and family demands in addition to academic requirements. In
these contexts, many college students may experience the persistence, exacerbation,
or first onset of mental health and substance use problems while possibly receiving no
or inadequate treatment. With the increasing recognition of child mental health issues
and the use of more psychotropic medications, the number of young adults with
mental health problems entering college has significantly increased. For example, in a
survey of 274 institutions, 88 % of counseling center directors reported an increase in
“severe” psychological problems over the previous 5 years including learning
disabilities, self-injury incidents, eating disorders, substance use, and sexual assaults.

IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH

Healthy mental health is a key to success of life. Especially in case of students for their
education to be on a better level first and foremost they need is a good mental [Link]
only a student can concentrate on studies, work productively and utilize their full potential
and achieve the desired goal.A student can only take right decision,think critically only when
their mental health is in healthy [Link] is only through mindfulness that they can reduce
the stress.
Inorder to put this into practical is simple but requires [Link] of the following are
factors that helps in boosting mental health.
-Every coaching institutes must have a psychologist/social worker ot atleast a counsellor
because the chances of stress,anxiety,depression and other mental disorders are common
when one is preparing for a competitive examination.

-A student must be given awareness on the importance of their mental health and how a
minute weakness can effect their studies.

-They should also feel worthy and capable and for that whole kind of support must be
ensured by the teachers and in any case of difficulty which is definite they must be
encouraged to take the support by counsellor or whoever is in charge of mental health of the
students in the centre.

-Meditation should be [Link] than pressurizing students to study 24/7,particular

amount of time should be allotted for meditation because it plays an important role in
their [Link] helps students to think out of box and handle [Link] also
boosts the memory power and concentration .It improves their positivity and will
[Link] who meditate daily are able to think critically and also able to utilize
the available time at its full.

-Same like meditation is the importance of exercise and by exercise it doesn’t mean
anything difficult or [Link] be a half an hour walk in an open area getting some
sunlight is refreshing and improves the blood circulation resulting in better physical
and mental [Link] students inside the close doors are harmful in many ways.

-Proper diet is important otherwise the students not only gets physically weak but
also weaken mentally .For the brain to function effectively certain nutrients are
[Link] asked a student about her diet she said she only eats chappati and
avoids rice inorder to avoid [Link]’s a good habit to eat Chappati but rice is required
inorder to have the energy .

-Proper Sleep is must for mental health.A student who thinks he can utilize that
sleeping hour by studying is commiting a grave mistake because he is loosing both
his sleep as well as studies since studying without sleep is [Link] deprivation
results in inability to concentrate,reduce memory power,anxiety,depression,suicide
thoughts and result in poor [Link] to American Psychological
Association,research involving more than 3000 high school stdents showed that
students who often get C’s, D’s, and F’s usually slept 25 minute less and went to bed
at about 40 minutes later than the students who reported were getting A’s and B’s.

If the following measures are followed a student will be having better physical and
mental health and also will be successful in their studies and even if there is a failure
they will be ready to face it.
Mental Health Issues in Adolescents

Adolescents is an age group where one goes through several mental and health
issues. Specialists consider adolescence to be an intense and often stressful
developmental period characterized by specific types of behaviour. “At least one in
five youth aged 9–17 years currently has a diagnosable mental health disorder that
causes some degree of impairment; one in 10 has a disorder that causes significant
Only one third of these youth receive the necessary treatment . One half of all
serious adult psychiatric disorders start by age 14 years, but treatment often does
not begin for 6–23 years after onset” (developed by the American College of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Committee on Adolescent Health Care in
collaboration with committee liaison Richard R. Brookman, MD.)

Some of the common mental illness that can be seen in adolescents are
moodswings,anxiety,behaviour disorders,attention [Link]’s briefly go through
some of them.

Anxiety Disorder
Anxiety Disorder is one of the most common mental health condition.A person with
anxiety respond to a number of things and situations with fear and worry.
Anxiety is actually good and necessary to an extent because it helps us to focus and
solve certain issues such as preparing for exam because if there is no fear a student
won’t be able to study properly but if there is anxiety on a normal range the student
will try to [Link] at the same time if the anxiety exceeds a certain level the
student won’t be able to concentrate or memorize and result in forgetting
[Link] anxiety at a level help us understand serious and dangerous situation
and tackle it .

Anxiety which crosses the line of regular or small fear,then its anxiety [Link]
normal physical signs of anxiety are sweating/hot flushes,irregular heartbeat and
feeling restless.

Anxiety disorders happen when :

-Anxiety interfers with your ability to function
-you often overreact when something triggers your
emotions -you cant control your responses to some
situations

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL SYMPTOMS

Physical symptoms include Cold and sweaty hands,Dry mouth, Nausea, Numbness
or tingling in hand or feet,Muscle tension. While mental symptoms consist of fear
and uneasiness,nightmares,overthinking,etc.
(Source: Cleveland [Link])

It’s usual for a common student to have anxiety due to their studies and
examinations and when it comes to someone studying for competitive examination
anxiety will be more because of huge syllabus,staying away from home and without
proper [Link] a reason it’s compulsory to appoint a counsellor or anyone
who could support students in every manner.

DEPRESSION

Depression is another common mental health disorder that is common in every age
groups mainly in adolescence and in students. According to the estimates of the
World Health Organization, 322 million people, amounting to 4.4% of the world
population, suffer from depression. ( Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017.
Depression and Other Common Mental Disorders: Global Health Estimates).Depression
is a situation where one goes through continuous feeling of sadness and a condition
where one cannot find interest and joy in things which made them happy once.A
depressed person may undergo memory loss, lack of critical thinking,sleeping and
eating disorders.

The causes of depression are complex and varies: it may be a combination of

biological genetical, environmental or psychological factors One of the main reason
for depression in students is stress mainly caused from overload of studies, not
being able to prepare properly for examination, tough competitions, family and
teachers pressure,fear of failure or failure, and other factors such as
relationships,home-sickness,etc.

the common symptoms of depression include persistant sadness,loss of interest in

earlier enjoyed activities,lack of energy / tiredness, insomnia or
oversleeping,variations in appetite, restlessness, continuous thought of
selfharm/suicide,etc.

Depression can be treated by psychotherapy,medication,medicine and also by

following a healthy living style such as meditation,exercise,proper sleep and food
and also through socialization.

ARE STUDENTS DESREGARDED & NEGLECTED OF THEIR MENTAL HEALTH

ISSUES ?

Indian students’ mental health issues are a quiet catastrophe that can go unreported
despite the country’s reputation for academic brilliance and a rich cultural legacy.
The emotional well-being of pupils is frequently overlooked and disregarded in
India’s educational system, which places a strong emphasis on academic success.
To highlight the urgency of this situation and throw light on it, this post seeks to do
just that
There are varied reasons why the number of students dealing with mental health
issues has significantly increased in recent years. Students’ mental health is
negatively impacted by the atmosphere that has been created by the pressure to
perform well academically and the high expectations of society and parents. The
situation is made worse by the fierce rivalry for a few possibilities, which makes
students stressed, anxious, and depressed.
The difficulty Is exacerbated by the lack of knowledge and understanding of mental
health concerns. Due to the stigma surrounding mental health issues, many students
endure their suffering in secret and are reluctant to seek treatment. Because of this,
their difficulties frequently go unreported, which has long-term effects on their
general well-being.
As a result, it is having untreated mental health issues in students and can have
serious consequences. Students who struggle to concentrate and manage the
demands of their academics may fare worse academically. Their mental health may
deteriorate further as a result of the stress and underperformance that might result
from this condition.

In addition, untreated mental health issues may have a long-term impact on a

student’s ability to lead a fulfilling life both personally and professionally. It could
make it difficult for them to build lasting relationships, hamper their chances of
landing a job, or, in the worst circumstances, result in substance misuse or self-harm

HOW TO DEAL MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEM?

The problem is quite severe in India – as per the National Mental Health Survey
2015-16, nearly 15% of Indian adults need active intervention for one or more mental
health [Link] 56 million Indians suffer from depression and 38 million suffer
from some anxiety disorder, i.e. one in seven Indians have depression or a form of
anxiety.
India is massively understaffed when it comes to psychologists and psychiatrists –
there are just three for every 1 lakh people suffering from mental health issues.
However, the shortage in mental health services is still not a matter of great public
concern because this is a country where it is taboo to talk about mental health.
Around half of all mental health problems in people manifest by the time they are 14,
and one-thirds by the time they are 25. Teenage years are rough as a large chunk of
students struggles to deal with depression, anxiety, ADHD, and more. Common
issues at this age aggravating mental health issues are – parental pressure, peer
pressure arising due to comparison by themselves or others, study and exam
anxiety, bullying, gender dysphoria, substance abuse, relationship troubles, etc.

A recent survey by NCERT shows that 81% students attribute studies, exams and
results as major causes of anxiety.
The pandemic was also not kind to youngsters as for two years, children were
deprived of the refuge that school often brought them from dysfunctional families.

Instead of being with friends and peers every single day, many who do not share
good family bonds found themselves isolated at home, thus causing a spike in
anxiety levels

WARNING SIGNS

It is important for parents, teachers and students themselves to be aware of it

warning signs of anxiety and depression.

Anxiety and stress tend to spike right before big occasions such as exams. Clinical
depression on the other hand is a mood disorder that is diagnosed as such if the
symptoms persist for at least two weeks at a stretch; it severely interferes with day-
to-day functioning.
Point to note: It is vital that the word ‘depressed’ is not used casually to signify a
feeling a lowness as this minimises the depth of the actual clinical condition.

Symptoms of anxiety:

 Restlessness, feeling on edge

 Uncontrollable worry
 Increased irritability
 Concentration difficulties
 Difficulty in falling asleep or sleeping for too long

Symptoms of stress:
Stress can manifest in signs similar to anxiety, and can also show up as:

 Digestive problems
 Menstrual problems
 Muscle tension
 Low energy
 Mood changes
 Headaches
 Weight changes
 High blood pressure
 Poor self-care
 Trouble remembering things
Symptoms of depression:

 Low mood
 Loss of interest in things that interested one before
 Reduced energy or fatigue
 Change in weight or appetite
 Insomnia or hypersomnia
 Reduced self-esteem or self confidence
 Guilt feelings
 Concentration problems
 Pessimistic thoughts
 Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
 Note: Depression may also affect preschool children.

HOW TO COPE WITH COMMON MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES ?

The most important thing students need to do when they feel mentally off is speak
up. There are many free counselling sessions and awareness programmes
conducted online that can greatly benefit youngsters. They can attend these even if
their parents and/or teachers are not taking their concerns seriously.

In September 2022, NCERT also directed every school or group of schools to

establish a mental health advisory panel. Guidelines have also been issued for the
early identification of mental health problems in students.

Counsellors are now becoming increasingly common in schools and the primary
factor here is privacy – students do not want to be shamed by their peers or scolded
by their parents. They need a safe space to air their concerns.

Colleges and universities are also taking up necessary steps to help older students.

“Wellbeing at Plaksha University follows a two-pronged approach that holds building

preventive skills to be as important as corrective interventions,” says Dr. Shalini
Sharma, Counselling Psychologist and Therapist at Plaksha University.

“As part of our wellbeing initiatives, we have been conducting group sessions
regularly to build the emotional skills of students on significant themes like handling
transitions, understanding emotions, building up coping skills among others,” she
says.

“Along with individual therapy sessions, we have initiated an ‘Emotions Lab’ for brief
experiments & discussions on topics like attitudes, perceptions, emotions, grief and
anxiety,” she adds.
WHAT STUDENTS CAN DO ?
A few common steps that students can take up to ease mental health issues are:

1. Meditation and breathing practices: Deep breathing and meditation practices

whether with music or with a guided talk are now commonly available for free on
YouTube, Spotify, and meditation-specific apps. Consistency is key in such
practices. Students can see the maximum benefit if they meditate for around 20
minutes twice a day, every day, preferably at the same time.

2. Self-analysis: After putting yourself in a relaxed state, go through common

questions to understand your condition better – When does my anxiety occur the
most – before or during which task? What increases or decreases it? What early
signs can I identify? What am I most afraid of? How often do I think of what I am
afraid of?

3. Journalling: Regularly journalling can help youngsters (and even adults) analyse
their mental well-being better. Lists of journalling prompts are available on
Pinterest and with a simple Google search.

“For incredible mental health, our young students need to practice research-led
meditative techniques which are integrated with traditional medicine,” explains Ishan
Shivanand, a mental health researcher and professor with expertise in non-
pharmaceutical meditative modalities. “Such protocols are proven to not only reverse
anxiety and depression among 72-82% of participants within a few weeks of regular
practice, but also improve quality of life among 77%,” he says. “Strategic pausing is
another remarkably effective technique for mental resilience. Ideally, take time off
regularly to bring your mind and body to a state of rest. Write gratitude journals,
spend quality time with family, or engage in hobbies of your deep interest,” he adds.
Remember: Stress, anxiety and depression shouldn’t be taken lightly. Over time,
they can cause major health issues such as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, sexual
dysfunction and ulcers. You cannot “snap out” of depression or anxiety. Not every
mental health problem can be dealt with on our own selves. Sharing your concerns
with a mental health professional is highly important if the issue persists for more
than a month.

Causes of Mental Health Issues in People Aged 18 to 25 - CMR UNIVERSITY

According to CMR University, the principal cause for mental health problems in
people aged between 18 and 25 are enlisted below:-

1- Childhood Abuse
Exposure to traumatic childhood experiences (like molestation, isolation, living with
an abusive parent, etc.) affects the brain’s development when it’s at a vulnerable
stage. Children may not realise it, but they internalise or externalise stress and
anger, which eventually turn into anxiety, depression, and psychopathic tendencies.
As they grow up, any event or conversation that reminds them of the past trauma
causes the anger and sadness to surface. It may last for life if left undiagnosed.

2- Performance Pressure
Adults often have high expectations of students who perform well at school. While
having expectations is normal, a problem arises when they become a consistent
source of pressure on students, which triggers performance anxiety. Consistently
studying and working under pressure can erode students’ mental well-being because
they reach a point where they’re unable to cope with constant vigilance and
conversations like how they’re going to have a miserable professional life if they
don’t perform well at school.

4. Peer Pressure
It is one of the major causes of mental health issues, especially during the teenage
years. Negative peer pressure stems from bullying, social isolation, fights with close
friends, and the experience of being cheated on. It damages the self-confidence of
individuals and makes them lose faith in relationships. The constant feeling of
hopelessness and gloom, when left untreated, may eventually cause depression,
leading to suicidal thoughts and self-harm.

5- Career-related Confusion
It is the second major cause of mental health issues in students. The pressure to
carve out a successful career is frequently measured by remuneration and not job
satisfaction. As a result, students abandon their passions or activities that they enjoy
and choose a job that pays well, even if they don’t like it. This is why most well-
established people leave a high-paying career later in life, probably because they
realise that all these years, they’ve been living according to others’ expectations and
not their own choices and interests. Since the teenage years are formative in
establishing the career path, it’s essential that we consistently motivate and mentor
youngsters to choose a job they love. If they pursue their interests, they’ll be able to
perform well and earn well, despite initial struggles. The concept is wonderfully
highlighted in Indian movies like 3 Idiots.

KOTA ‘FACTORY OF SUICIDES’

A significant factor contributing to the deteriorating mental health of students in the
coaching hub of Kota, pushing them to take dangerous steps is the approach of
parents towards their career and higher education. “No turning back”, is what they
tell their children. This troubling trend has become more pronounced as the “Kota
factory” witnesses a surge in student [Link], top coaching institutes have
expressed concerns that a majority of parents are resistant to accepting constructive
feedback about their children’s performance. Instead, they often insist on their
children continuing their rigorous preparations for engineering and medical entrance
exams despite the associated mental health challenges.
From reaching out to parents about possible signs of depression in their child, no
aptitude for the particular subject or career, inability to live away from home, police
and coaching institutes say their communications to parents about such issues are
often met with resistance and majority of them refuse to accept these.
Over 2.5 lakh students move to Kota annually to prepare for competitive exams such
as the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for engineering and the National Eligibility-cum-
Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical colleges.
The year 2023 has seen the highest number of student suicides 22 so far with two
ending their lives in a gap of a few hours on August 27. Last year, the figure was 15.
Packed schedules, cut-throat competition, constant pressure to do better, the burden
of parents’ expectations and homesickness are among the common struggles of the
students here.
Kota District Collector OP Bunkar said parents have genuine intent behind sending
their children to the coaching hub but they should be ready to accept and act if their
child is not able to cope up due to any reason. Authorities in Kota asked coaching
institutes to stop conducting routine tests of students preparing for NEET and other
competitive exams for the next two months in the wake of suicides by a number of
aspirants.
Psychiatrist Dr Neena Vijyvargia who counsels coaching students at the Health Mind
Clinic, said many parents believe the child is ‘acting’ when he reports about inability
to perform or feeling stressed.

MAJOR FINDINGS

 In the total population of 199 mental health issues is active in a number of students
who neither conveyed this with their family or the institute.
 Around 11% of total population undergoing moderate or serious mental health is for
which the require treatment
 However, no treatment is being taken by any of these people
 Nearly 4% of the total population are showing self harming tendencies with
inclination to suicide.
 0.05% of total population have faced sexual abuse once or more in their lifetime.
 Fortunately the family pressure on the students is comparatively less .
 Almost half of the total coaching institute does not actively bother on Mendel health
issues and periodic counselling for the students to be provided as per the rules and
regulation
 Still 40% of Institute are providing mental health support and counselling to students.
  The extra curricular activities which helps in releasing the tensions and anxiety of
students takes less importance in almost all the coaching institutes.
 Most importantly, 90 % population does not face mental health issues due to the
pressure from the institute
 The population with mental health issues does not even recognise that they require
treatment
 No government regulation on coaching institutes are strictly adhered

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Kar. Kumar Sujita(2020), Student Suicide Linked to NEET Examination in India: A
Media Report Analysis Study, National Library of Medicine,
[Link]

Chakrabarty. Roshini(2022), The two biggest mental health problems in students and
how to deal with them, India Today,
[Link]
health-problems-in-students-and-how-to-deal-with-them-anxiety-depression-
2283562-2022-10-10

Frontline Bureau(2023), India’s pressure-cooker education system, The Hindu e-

article, [Link]
education-system-the-dark-side-of-coaching-centres-student-suicides/
[Link]

Virk. Aviral(2016), Why Kota Kills: 7 Reasons Behind Student Suicides in Coaching
Town, The Quint, [Link]
behind-student-suicides-in-coaching-town

Times of India (2023), Why Do Students Commit Suicide In The ‘Kota Factory’? The
Culprit Is Parents’ ‘No Turning Back’ Stance ,
[Link] ews/parents-tell-children-theres-no-
going-back-police-coaching-institutes-on-student-suicides-in-kota-factory/
articleshow/[Link]

The Times of India(2017) , One Monthly Exam To Reduce Stress On Students:

Chakrapani Committee, [Link]
monthly-exam-to-reduce-stress-on-students-chakrapani-committee/articleshow/
[Link]

SAMHSA, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration(2023), What

is Mental Health?, [Link] .