India’s Youth Are Crying For Help As Silent Mental-Health Crisis Deepens

A 17-year-old Mumbai student died by suicide just days before she was to leave for London, after silently battling depression for nearly two years. In Bhubaneswar, a 19-year-old first-year BTech student at a private university allegedly took his life only days ago.

In Punjab’s Thikriwala village, a BA third-year student allegedly died by suicide, unable to bear the distress of her family struggling to arrange her Rs 5,000 college fee. Weeks earlier, a nine-year-old from an elite Jaipur school died after jumping from her school building; her parents say their repeated complaints of bullying and sexually tinged verbal abuse were ignored.

In Maharashtra’s Chandrapur district, a 19-year-old who had secured an impressive NEET UG 2025 rank died by suicide, saying he did not want to become a doctor. And in Surat, a 20-year-old engineering student allegedly died by jumping from his hostel balcony.

These tragedies are recent but not rare anymore. Across India — from metros to small towns, from elite schools to crowded hostels and coaching centres — young people are fighting emotional battles that adults neither notice nor understand. Their distress is often labelled as “teenage mood swings”, their silence mistaken for resilience, and their withdrawal dismissed as “normal”. But beneath the surface, many carry a deep, disturbing exhaustion.

Data speaks. Suicide is now one of the leading causes of death among Indians aged 15–29, with the nation’s suicide rate far above the global average.

A 20-year-old Delhi college student describes it simply yet heartbreakingly: “Some days I wake up with a heaviness I can’t explain. Everyone sees opportunities, but no one sees the expectations. I feel like I’m always racing, always falling short.”

Her words mirror the reality of millions who navigate academic pressure, digital overload, unstable home environments, loneliness and fear — all while pretending to be fine.

The pressures shaping this crisis begin early, long before adolescence. “Children are facing relentless academic expectations, rising competition, and the fear of disappointing their families,” says Dr. Nand Kumar, Psychiatrist at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi.

The digital world adds a new layer of burden, with Dr. Kumar warning that constant screen exposure and social media comparisons too are reshaping young brains in ways we do not fully understand.

Dr. Kumar says that emotional health is an integral part of health and that a healthy mind leads to a healthy body. It influences how people think, feel, and behave in daily life, and also affects decision-making, stress management, and relationships.

Families, too, unintentionally contribute to the strain. Dr Rajesh Sagar, from the Psychiatrist Department from AIIMS Delhi feels that many children are not finding their homes a place of comfort but the place where pressure intensifies.

He blames it on growing aspirations of parents and the concept of nuclear families where emotional conversations rarely find space. “In earlier times, children had grandparents and elders with whom they could freely share their feelings. That emotional outlet is largely missing now.”

Loneliness quietly spreads — even in crowded classrooms.

Unfortunately, India’s mental-health infrastructure is not keeping pace with the crisis. WHO estimates place India’s mental-health burden at 2,443 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) per 10,000 population, while the Economic Survey 2025 warns that mental-health conditions could cost the country USD 1.03 trillion by 2030.

Nearly 90% of young people who need help receive none — blocked by stigma, high out-of-pocket costs, or a severe shortage of professionals. India has 0.7 psychiatrists for every 100,000 people. The WHO recommends three psychiatrists per 100,000 population, says Dr. Kumar. Most schools and colleges still operate without trained counsellors.

Initiatives such as MATE (Mind Activation Through Education), launched jointly by AIIMS, Delhi and the CBSE, aim to build emotional resilience early. Dr. Kumar who heads the project says, the programme emphasises that every child should have five friends with whom they can share their feelings and emotions.

''The idea is to teach children that human connection is the first shield against despair,” he says.

Once resilience is built in a child, he or she is better equipped to face mental-health challenges — including ragging, a long-standing problem that has haunted college campuses for decades, points out Kumar.

Spiritual leaders like Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj of the Vishwa Jagriti Mission, who has long spoken against ragging, describe it as “harassment that destroys a student’s confidence.”

His organisation, VJM, had filed a petition way back in 2001 in court demanding a complete ban on ragging, after which the practice was finally prohibited. But the problem is far from over. Ragging still happens quietly in many colleges, causing stress, anxiety and even depression among students.

Dr. RP Beniwal, Psychiatrist and Senior Consultant at VMMC & RML Hospital, Delhi, describes bullying or ragging as “unwanted and aggressive behaviour meant to hurt or humiliate someone.”

In schools and colleges, children and youth are bullied over looks, caste, appearance or economic condition, he says. “Sometimes even teachers bully without realising it. Institutions must act firmly. Strict disciplinary action prevents repeat incidents.”

But, adds Dr. Beniwal, the responsibility also lies at home.

“Everything begins in the family. Parents are role models. If we want children to behave with empathy, we must model that behaviour ourselves.”

Dr. Smitha Deshpande, Professor (Research), Department of Psychiatry, St John’s Medical College Hospital reinforces this. “It truly takes a family to raise a child. Children need respect, protection and understanding more than punishment or criticism. Parents often underestimate how deeply their behaviour — anger, neglect, pressure or emotional distance — shapes a child’s inner world. A listening parent can be a lifeline. A dismissive one can push a child deeper into despair without ever realising it.”

At the same time, Dr Sagar feels that schools too have a role to play and must respond — not just teach.

“Teachers are often the first to see behaviour change. Schools need trained counsellors, sensitised teachers, active Parents-teachers meetings (PTMs,) mental-health curriculum and 24x7 helplines,” he says.

Dr. Sagar points to research indicating that more than half of all adult mental-health disorders actually begin before the age of 14, underscoring how crucial early recognition and support can be.

On his part, to help young people cope, Sudhanshu Ji Maharaj has been holding yoga and meditation sessions to build their inner strength and confidence.

Dr. Rima Dada, Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Professor in Charge of the Media Cell at AIIMS, also stresses the importance of yoga for young people. She says yoga is a powerful “mind–body energy practice” that can transform health.

According to her, yoga promotes neuroplasticity, protects the brain and helps make the mind more resilient. It reduces inflammation and oxidative stress, supports healthy gene activity, boosts the parasympathetic system and can even slow biological ageing, she adds.

Besides encouraging yoga and meditation and MATE kind programmes, what India needs now is a genuine, nationwide commitment to youth mental health.

“This includes placing trained counsellors in every school, making mental-health education part of everyday classroom learning, enforcing strict and transparent action against bullying and ragging, and training teachers and wardens to spot early signs of distress. Equally important is building open communication within families,” the experts were unanimous in their suggestions.

They add that moderating screen time, strengthening peer-support networks, and partnering with NGOs and faith-based groups working at the community level must be part of the response.

And rightly so. If mental well-being is central to overall health — as doctors, educators and even the courts now acknowledge — then creating strong support systems at home, in schools, on campuses and across communities is not optional. It is our national responsibility.