A recent suspected suicide at BITS Pilani’s Goa campus has intensified scrutiny of India’s escalating student mental health emergency. The death of 20-year-old electronics engineering student V. Jitesh marks the sixth such tragedy at the institute within 15 months, revealing disturbing patterns of academic pressure and psychological distress among India’s youth.
Goa’s chief minister has established a district-level monitoring committee to investigate the alarming trend. Their preliminary findings point to a phenomenon known as ‘suicide contagion’ or copycat behavior, where one suicidal act triggers similar actions among vulnerable individuals. A senior official involved in the investigation noted the committee had documented multiple instances of this imitation effect across five examined cases.
The broader statistics paint a grim national picture. According to National Crime Records Bureau data, student suicides have surged by 65% between 2013 and 2023. Shockingly, student suicides now exceed those within the farming community. The IC3 Institute’s recent report, ‘Student Suicides: An Epidemic Sweeping India,’ estimates over 13,000 students take their lives annually, with student suicide rates growing at twice the pace of general suicides.
While BITS Pilani’s administration expressed condolences and highlighted existing support systems, including counseling services and mental health professionals, critics argue institutional responses remain inadequate. Political leaders have called for judicial inquiries, describing the situation as a ‘total collapse of student safety and mental-health governance.’
The UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children report adds crucial context, indicating one in seven Indian youth aged 15-24 experiences poor mental health, yet only 41% seek support. This combination of high prevalence and low help-seeking behavior creates a perfect storm that demands urgent policy intervention and societal awareness campaigns.