How can our educational system prevent a student commits suicide

Education is perhaps society’s most critical responsibility. Educational institutions impart knowledge to students, lay emphasis on their physical well-being and prepare them for social challenges. But unfortunately, many educational institutions and teachers are not yet fully equipped to understand the mental health issues of students. 
Psychological concerns in children are on the rise, especially behavioral issues and suicides. 12 per cent of Indian students between the age of 4 and 16 suffer from psychiatric disorders. 20 per cent show signs of mental disorders, out of which 2-5 per cent have serious concerns like autism or bi-polar disorder. Shockingly, every one hour a student commits suicide in India. 

Children and young adults have complicated emotional eco-systems that are easily afflicted by behavioral, emotional, learning or mental disorders, including – depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, disruptive behavior disorders, Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD. 

Depression and bi-polar disorder can be genetic and may manifest themselves in childhood itself. 

Environmental challenges lead to mental concerns as well: racial, sexual or religious discrimination, body-shaming, sexual challenges, emotional issues, low self-esteem or insecurities, family or financial problems, substance addiction, and even hormonal changes may play a part. 

Pressure from parents to perform well in exams can affect a child’s mental health. Being bullied by other kids can act as a trigger. And the real reason behind a student’s difficulties with concentration and learning may be ADHD. 

Mental concerns often manifest themselves as poor academic performance, lack of motivation, social interaction issues with peers or teachers, and even self-harm. 
And then, they have to contend with the beast of stigma attached to mental issues. 

The solution lies in students, teachers and parents – all 3 playing an active part in ensuring mental well-being. 

In India, parents often go into denial mode when it comes to their child’s mental health, resorting to statements like, “My child has no such problems!”. 

This attitude must go. Parents must understand how fragile their children’s mental well-being is and be proactive in assessing it. 

Teachers certainly need to be trained in identifying symptoms and patterns of mental issues. For example, before scolding a child for disruptive behavior, they could use these skills to analyze the reason behind such behavior. 

Also, educational institutions must have psychological counseling programs in place to help students deal with their issues in confidentiality and in a comfortable environment. 

Every child’s coping mechanism is different. Hence, the counseling programs must be flexible, to cater to the needs of each child individually. If needed, a student must be referred to a mental healthcare professional for timely intervention. Treatment and recovery are definitely possible through counseling, therapy and medication. 

To ensure the holistic – physical, emotional and mental well-being of children, society must sincerely Endeavour to bridge the gap in the education sector vis-à-vis mental well-being.