Supreme Court task force survey finds high student distress and suicidal thoughts

student mental health suicide prevention higher education India National Task Force campus discrimination

A nationwide survey conducted by the Supreme Court-appointed National Task Force (NTF) has revealed significant mental health challenges among students in Indian higher education institutions. Based on responses from over 2.43 lakh students, the findings indicate that 9 per cent of respondents reported experiencing suicidal thoughts frequently or very often in the past year. Additionally, approximately 15 per cent of students reported feeling overwhelmed, distressed, or experiencing continuous anxiety and low moods over the previous six months.

The survey also highlighted issues regarding campus environment and social inclusion. About 34 per cent of students reported feeling like an outsider on their campus to varying degrees. Notably, 67 per cent of the survey participants belonged to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or Other Backward Class (OBC) categories. The task force previously noted systemic issues including social discrimination, sexual harassment, and gender discrimination in various colleges.

Institutional support remains a concern, with 32 per cent of students stating their institutions lack counseling services, although 56 per cent expressed trust in their administration to handle serious matters fairly. The NTF is expected to submit its final report addressing these mental health concerns and suicide prevention measures to the Supreme Court by October 31, 2026. The task force cautioned that these preliminary findings may not be fully representative of the entire student population.

Entities

IIT Bombay · IIT Delhi · National Task Force · Supreme Court of India

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 8 SOURCES] Approximately 34 per cent of students reported feeling like an outsider on campus to varying degrees. www.edexlive.com · hindi.news18.com · www.millenniumpost.in · www.tv9hindi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · +3 more
[● 5 SOURCES] Sixty-seven per cent of the survey respondents belonged to Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), or Other Backward Class (OBC) categories. www.edexlive.com · hindi.news18.com · www.millenniumpost.in · www.tv9hindi.com · www.newindianexpress.com
[● 3 SOURCES] About 32 per cent of students stated that their institutions do not provide counseling services. hindi.news18.com · www.newindianexpress.com · www.news18.com
[● 8 SOURCES] Nine per cent of students reported experiencing suicidal thoughts often or very often within the past year. www.edexlive.com · hindi.news18.com · www.millenniumpost.in · www.tv9hindi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Approximately 15 per cent of students in higher education institutions experienced severe distress, low mood, or anxiety in the previous six months. www.edexlive.com · hindi.news18.com · www.millenniumpost.in · www.tv9hindi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · +3 more
[● 4 SOURCES] Fifty-six per cent of students indicated they trust their institution's administration to handle serious issues fairly. www.edexlive.com · hindi.news18.com · www.newindianexpress.com · www.news18.com
[● 6 SOURCES] The nationwide survey included responses from more than 2.43 lakh students. www.edexlive.com · hindi.news18.com · www.millenniumpost.in · www.tv9hindi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · +1 more
[● 8 SOURCES] The National Task Force is expected to submit its final report to the Supreme Court by October 31, 2026. www.edexlive.com · hindi.news18.com · www.millenniumpost.in · www.tv9hindi.com · www.deccanchronicle.com · +3 more