The Deteriorating Mental Health of Students

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) has been in the spotlight over the past few weeks but for all the wrong reasons. Now, news comes out that a third-year female student from IIT Kharagpur has been found dead. The bioscience and biotechnology student Devika Pillai hailed from Kerala. According to the reports, the body was found hanging in her hostel premises this morning and has been sent to Kharagpur sub-divisional hospital for post-mortem. In another incident from the

campus, a few days ago, two years after IIT-Kharagpur student Faizan Ahmed’s semi-decomposed body was found in a hostel (on October 14, 2022), the latest forensic report claims that the 23-yearold mechanical engineering student was allegedly murdered.

As many as 33 students at various Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) alone from across the country have died by suicide since 2018. National Institutes of Technology (NITs) reported 24 such deaths in this period, while the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMS) reported four such deaths. The deteriorating mental health of students and environments that lead them to unfavorable environments is becoming a serious concern. It is no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic became catalytic in deteriorating the mental health scenario in the world. Studies have continued to show increased levels of anxiety and depression, especially among college students. Maybe more than ever, faculty members are talking to students about mental health. And it is effective, too. This year’s IIT Kharagpur special issue features some of the prestigious alumni of the institute. Do let us know your thoughts.