Bengaluru: Recent student suicides have again put the spotlight on the quality of mental health facilities on educational campuses. On this World Suicide Prevention Day, TOI spoke to mental health experts who highlighted the gaps that go beyond campus infrastructure.Suhas Chandran, associate professor and head, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Unit, St John’s Medical College, said: “Colleges must train wardens and staff who students actually talk to, assign non-grading mentors, ensure independent counselling, involve students in decisions, and plan for the aftermath of a death.”According to Cadabams Hospitals, over 58,000 students had got in touch seeking mental health intervention information, and it has a record of 3,569 documented counselling sessions. Anxiety accounted for 29% of concerns raised, family conflict 14%, and academic stress about 10%, indicating that student distress stems from a wider range of factors instead of just exams.“Physical safety measures are an important part of suicide prevention as they create an additional layer of protection during a crisis. However, they should be viewed as one component, not as a solution. Institutions need to combine environmental safety with accessible counselling, early identification, crisis-response systems and an environment where students can seek help without fear. Institutions should therefore examine whether their systems allow students to recover from failure. Faculty interactions also matter because teachers are often among the adults who interact with students regularly and may notice changes before others do,” Neha Cadabam, senior psychologist and executive director at Cadabams Hospitals, said.Deepika Appaiah, founder and trustee of Mind and Matter, a non-profit organisation, said: “Public initiatives such as campaigns and community conversations can also make a difference. When a large number of people come together for a single cause, it automatically garners strength and support, making the cause appear more credible, necessary and important. Such initiatives can help start conversations, reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help when they need it.”Helpline: Tele-MANAS, 14416 or 1800-891-4416.
