A nationwide survey by the Supreme Court of India-appointed National Task Force (NTF) on student mental health found that around 15% of students in higher education institutions (HEIs) experienced a period of severe distress in the previous six months, while 9% reported suicidal thoughts in the past year. The findings highlight concerns related to academic pressure, employment worries, discrimination, inadequate counselling, and institutional support in higher education institutions.

Why in News?

The survey was conducted as part of the NTF’s work to examine student mental health and prevent suicides in HEIs. The survey received responses from over 2.43 lakh students. Around 67% of respondents belonged to SC, ST, and OBC categories. Around 34% reported feeling like an outsider on campus to varying degrees.

  • About 15% reported a period of severe distress, low mood, or anxiety in the previous six months.
  • 9% reported experiencing suicidal thoughts often or very often in the past year.
  • Around 32% said their institution did not provide counselling services.
  • The NTF’s final report is expected by October 31, 2026.

Key Findings on Student Mental Health

The survey points to a combination of academic, social, and employment-related pressures affecting students. Concerns about academic choices and future employment were commonly reported.

  • 56% of students expressed trust in their administration to handle serious issues fairly.
  • Around 32% reported a lack of counselling services.
  • About 34% felt like outsiders on campus to varying degrees.
  • Students also reported concerns related to social discrimination and institutional support.

Social Discrimination and Campus Environment

The NTF’s interim findings had identified several forms of discrimination and unequal treatment in higher educational institutions. These included concerns related to caste, gender, and social background.

Reported issues included:

  • Caste-based humiliation and discrimination.
  • Identification of caste through NEET-UG and JEE ranks.
  • Differences in admission, grading, and faculty attention.
  • Gender discrimination in some institutions.
  • Concerns over hostel curfews and moral policing.
  • Reports of sexual harassment in some medical and engineering institutions.

Academic Pressure and Institutional Problems

Students also reported several academic and administrative difficulties. These problems varied across disciplines and institutions. Major concerns included:

  • Strict attendance requirements.
  • Demanding academic schedules.
  • Academic and clinical overload in medical education.
  • Long on-call hours for medical students.
  • Intense competition due to relative grading and placement criteria in engineering institutions.
  • Faculty shortages in some State universities.
  • Insufficient academic support.
  • Inadequate practical training in some dental, nursing and mental-health institutions.
  • Problems involving PhD supervisors, including neglect, excessive control and exploitation.

Watch : Student Mental Health in India: 9% Report Suicidal Thoughts & SC Panel Survey

Need for Stronger Student Support Systems

The emerging findings point towards the need for more standardised systems for identifying and responding to student mental-health concerns. However, the NTF has cautioned that the current findings are preliminary because the survey sample is not fully representative. The emerging recommendations include:

  • Standardised student support systems.
  • Faculty training on student mental health.
  • Stigma reduction measures.
  • Crisis Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
  • Regular monitoring using reliable data.
  • Responsive and transparent institutional administration.
  • Better access to counselling services.

National Task Force

The National Task Force was constituted by the Supreme Court of India in March 2025 to examine student mental health and well-being and address the rising incidence of student suicides in higher educational institutions. The task force is headed by Justice S. Ravindra Bhat and includes experts from fields such as psychiatry, clinical psychology, gender studies, and disability rights. The NTF has also conducted institutional visits and stakeholder consultations across Delhi-NCR, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Assam and West Bengal.

Limitations of the Survey

The findings need to be interpreted carefully because the NTF has stated that the current sample is not representative of all higher educational institutions.

  • More than 2.43 lakh students responded to the survey.
  • Institutional visits covered 19 institutions through 30 meetings.
  • The limited number of institutional sites means the findings cannot automatically be treated as representative of all HEIs.
  • Some survey responses are still being analysed.

Way Forward

Student well-being requires institutions to address both mental-health support and the academic and social conditions that may contribute to distress. Consistent with the World Health Organization (WHO) emphasis on promoting mental health and well-being, stronger counselling systems, trained faculty, transparent grievance mechanisms, and regular monitoring can help institutions respond to student concerns more effectively.

Conclusion

The NTF survey highlights significant concerns related to student mental health, academic pressure, discrimination, and institutional support in higher education. While the findings are preliminary and not fully representative, they underline the need for accessible counselling, trained faculty, crisis-response systems, transparent administration, and better monitoring. A stronger student-support framework can help higher education institutions create a safer and more supportive learning environment.