STUDENT SUICIDES SPARK OUTRAGE

Experts highlight a growing trend of suicidality among schoolchildren, pointing out that India accounts for 'one-third of the global suicide burden, and suicide is now the leading cause of death among youth aged 15-29'

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New Delhi, Nov 22: As outrage over student suicides intensifies, experts are calling for reforms to create "mentally healthy schools" while angry parents' associations are demanding "government takeover" of institutions linked to such cases. In all, the focus is on systematic changes to prevent further loss of young lives.

A class 10 student of the St Columba's School of New Delhi, who once dreamt of becoming "the next Shah Rukh Khan", took a fatal step and jumped from the platform of Rajendra Place Metro Station Tuesday, following months of alleged harassment by his teachers.

While the tragic incident has sparked nationwide debate, with some blaming schools and others siding with parents, mental health expert Neha Kirpal cautions that such polarisation is misplaced.