Some Facts about the three suicides in Kota recently
There were two students from Bihar, ages 17 and 18, living near each other in a PG and attending the same coaching classes. Both were studying for different entrance exams, one for medical and the other for IIT. The two students kept in close contact with their families, talking to them and their parents daily. The night before their death, the two students had met, and both were found to have died from hanging. Neither of them was doing well in their exams or attending classes. A third student from Madhya Pradesh studying for NEET consumed poison after having a conversation with their parents and eating his dinner.
Causes of suicides among students studying in Kota coaching classes
The recent spate of suicides in Kota, Rajasthan, has put the spotlight on the mental health of students. Many parents and students have raised concerns about the level of stress faced by students and the general lack of assistance for students dealing with mental health issues. The media has also speculated about the academic pressure faced by students and the high fees charged by private coaching institutions. This article takes a closer look at the possible causes of the Kota suicides and suggests possible solutions to address them.
a. Academic pressure
Students often feel that they are not able to cope with the academic pressure and the expectations that are on them. They feel that they need to perform well in their examinations and often feel that they are not able to achieve this. This can lead to a sense of failure and frustration, and put pressure on the students to improve their performance. People also often compare their performance with others and may expect others to perform poorly and be judgmental about other’s academic performance. This can also put pressure on students and make them feel as though they are not able to live up to their own expectations or the expectations of others. Students may also be sensitive to social judgment about their performance. They may feel that their classmates and others in the society may judge them for performing poorly and expect them to perform better in their next examination. This may put pressure on students and make them feel that they have to live up to the expectations of others and perform better.
b. Financial constraints
Parents often have to take loans and take money from their relatives and friends to be able to afford the tutoring fees in Kota. They are also expected to bear the expenses related to their travel and food. This may put students under a lot of stress and add to their problems of academic performance.Some students may have to travel to Kota from other parts of the country, leaving their homes and their parents behind. This can add to their feelings of stress and anxiety, and make them feel a lack of support from their parents. As a result of the removal of parental supervision, students are more left alone. Living in close quarters with other similarly-placed students who are in a cutthroat competition with one another academically is a recipe for disaster. They are struggling emotionally and are looking for support from others, but all they can find are rivals.
Coaching Classes like these are like psychological pressure cookers just waiting to blow.
c. Lack of emotional support
Involvement of Mirror Imaging in 2 Student Deaths in Bihar. One got depressed, while the other shared his reactions and feelings. The already heavy depression was amplified, and so were the ramifications of any terrible decisions made. To the contrary, they were mutually reinforcing each other's destructive behavior rather than pulling them out of the despair.
Many Kota students feel that they have no one to turn to in their moments of crisis. They may feel that they are too ashamed to share their feelings with their parents and may have difficulty in sharing their feelings with their friends and relatives. This can increase their feelings of isolation and make them more prone to suicide.
Sometimes, students will place unreasonable expectations on themselves and then be harsh on them when they fall short of those benchmarks.
Some students are more sociable than others and, as a result, have a greater need for regular social interaction; however, due to intense competition and demanding time commitments, these students often find themselves isolated.
Students were excessively hard on themselves for not performing well in class and could not accept failure as an option.
In addition, their parents' negative comments reinforced their sense of doom, so they couldn't think about anything but the exam.
d. Warning signs of suicide
Altered conduct: Both became absentee due to stress and depression brought on by the intensity of the competition. They were attempting to escape confrontation with their classmates by running away.Withdrawal is the primary symptom of depression,as a result, we had fewer interactions with other people.When combined with the other friend's already-present depression, this was a recipe for disaster.
Impact of suicides on society
The media reports of suicides in Kota have led to people questioning whether coaching centres are in any way responsible for the tragic deaths. Some parents have also expressed concerns about the high fees that these coaching centres charge, as well as the general pressure that their children face to perform in their examinations. There have also been reports that coaching centres may have taken advantage of the desperation of students by asking them to pay extra money and to take loans to pay the tutoring fees. While the reasons for the Kota suicides may be different from person to person, the fact that this is happening in a significant number of cases cannot be denied. Therefore, it is important for the authorities to understand the underlying causes of these suicides and to put in place measures to ensure that such tragedies do not recur in the future.
Solutions to reduce suicides among students
One way to reduce the number of suicides among students in Kota is to improve the learning environment. This can be done by reducing the number of students in a class, providing adequate space for students to think and reflect, and allowing students to take periodic breaks from their studies. It is important that parents and teachers be more aware of the signs of mental health issues and help students manage their stress better. Mental health issues affect a person’s ability to think clearly and make decisions, and can develop into a serious condition if left untreated. Mental health awareness programmes can be conducted regularly in coaching classes to help students become more aware of mental health issues, know how to deal with them and seek professional help if needed.
Message for Parents
If your child is residing at a hostel, it is imperative that you keep a close eye on them and pay frequent visits. Students' capabilities must be recognised and respected, and they must not be pushed beyond their limits. If a student is struggling academically, parents should avoid making any disparaging comments to them. Pay more attention to the steps taken to prepare for the exam and reward that instead of the total result. Rather than viewing failures negatively, try viewing them as learning opportunities. It is important to integrate mindfulness training into their routine study routine.
In case your planned career path doesn't work out, know that there is always another option that will not always lead to a worse future.
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