Mumbai:
Fourteen-year-old Rajesh Yadav hanged himself at his house in Juhu in Mumbai after he was suspended from school for bunking .
"He had been absent from school for a day. We had no idea where he was. So we called his parents and in front of them we told him he was being suspended for a day. In our experience if you don't correct the child in some way he can do it again," says Sister Beena C J, the Principal of St Joseph's School.
Within an hour, came news of another suicide, this time from Nalasopara, just outside Mumbai. Twenty two-year-old Ashwini Shukla, a second-year college student, had hanged himself at his home in a chawl. No reason given. "There was no problem. He just had slight fever. I don't know why he did that," says Ashwini's Uncle, Ram Kumar.
This month alone, nearly 20 student suicides have been reported from across Maharashtra. Despite the fact that every year at exam time, Indian students show signs of overwhelming stress, the police have no separate date for student suicides. So it's not clear whether this year, student deaths are unusually high.
But parents and teachers are worried. So schools and colleges are holding counselling classes where teachers are taught to read the signs of a student in distress.
"We tend to be so caught up in the academic goals that we forget their human side. This session taught us that," comments Lata Merchant, a teacher at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vidyalay, after attending a training session.
Counsellors point out that it's equally important for parents to be sensitive and vigilant at home. And when in doubt, reach out for professional help. A local 24-hour helpline number: 022-2570600.
"He had been absent from school for a day. We had no idea where he was. So we called his parents and in front of them we told him he was being suspended for a day. In our experience if you don't correct the child in some way he can do it again," says Sister Beena C J, the Principal of St Joseph's School.
Within an hour, came news of another suicide, this time from Nalasopara, just outside Mumbai. Twenty two-year-old Ashwini Shukla, a second-year college student, had hanged himself at his home in a chawl. No reason given. "There was no problem. He just had slight fever. I don't know why he did that," says Ashwini's Uncle, Ram Kumar.
This month alone, nearly 20 student suicides have been reported from across Maharashtra. Despite the fact that every year at exam time, Indian students show signs of overwhelming stress, the police have no separate date for student suicides. So it's not clear whether this year, student deaths are unusually high.
But parents and teachers are worried. So schools and colleges are holding counselling classes where teachers are taught to read the signs of a student in distress.
"We tend to be so caught up in the academic goals that we forget their human side. This session taught us that," comments Lata Merchant, a teacher at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Vidyalay, after attending a training session.
Counsellors point out that it's equally important for parents to be sensitive and vigilant at home. And when in doubt, reach out for professional help. A local 24-hour helpline number: 022-2570600.
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