Tamil Nadu suicides: 5th student ends life in 2 weeks
In a shocking series of events, Tamil Nadu has reported yet another student suicide. A boy studying in class 12th reportedly hanged himself at his home in the Sivagangai district on Wednesday, only hours after reports emerged of a 17-year-old girl allegedly dying by suicide in Sivakasi. This is the fifth such incident in the state over the past two weeks.
Why does this story matter?
Tamil Nadu has been marred by student suicides, with four girls and one boy allegedly killing themselves this month. All five were high school students, and three of them blamed academic pressure either from their teachers or family members for taking the extreme step. Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin also expressed concern over the recent incidents and called the deaths "painful."
Boy hangs self in Sivaganga
In the fifth such incident, a boy enrolled in class 12th allegedly died by suicide on Wednesday in Karaikudi, Sivagangai district. According to the police, his suicide note mentioned that he was facing difficulty in understanding science and maths. His autopsy is complete and his body has been handed over to the parents, ANI reported. While an investigation is underway, more details are awaited.
Series of suicides in Tamil Nadu
A young girl studying in class 11 allegedly died by suicide at her home in the Ayyambati area in southern Tamil Nadu, local media reported on Wednesday morning. The parents, daily wage laborers at a cracker factory, were not at home when the incident occurred. The 17-year-old reportedly hanged herself after she returned from school on Tuesday. Her grandmother called for help immediately after.
No suicide note found at the site
The police rushed to the spot and took the student's body to Sivakasi Government Hospital for post-mortem. While the Tamil Nadu Police has not found a suicide note yet, they told NDTV that she often suffered from severe stomach ache. Three class 12th girls and one class 11th girl have died in the state over two weeks, reportedly by suicide.
Four student suicides this week
Another class 12th student hanged herself at her Cuddalore home on Tuesday, allegedly because she performed poorly in monthly exams. In a four-page suicide note, she blamed her "inability to fulfill the IAS aspirations of her parents." On Monday, another Class 12th student, Sarala, reportedly killed herself at a government-aided school's hostel.
Four deaths in four districts
The suicides follow the first case of a Class 12th student, who allegedly hanged herself in a private residential school in Kallakurichi on July 13. She was reportedly humiliated by her teachers over her academic performance, and this triggered violent protests across the state. Student suicides have now been reported in Sivagangai, Kallakurichi, Tiruvallur, Cuddalore, and Sivakasi districts.
CM Stalin expresses grief
CM Stalin expressed grief over the student suicides in TN on Tuesday. "Educational institutes must perceive education as a service and not as a business. Students should be taught to deal with any situation. They should not have suicidal thoughts," he said. The Tamil Nadu government will also be appointing 800 doctors under the "Manavar Manasu" initiative to provide psychological counseling to students.
If you have suicidal thoughts, please seek help
In case you need help or know someone who does, you can reach out to AASRA for suicide prevention counseling. Their number is 022 2754 6669 (24 hours). You can also contact the Hyderabad-based Roshni NGO at +914066202000 or COOJ at +918322252525. Sneha India Foundation, which works 24X7, can be contacted at +914424640050. Vandrevala Foundation has trained counselors, and their number is 18602662345.
