Jamshedpur: A sustained, multi-pronged mental health campaign has helped reduce student suicides in the Steel City over the past decade, according to data from Jeevan, a city-based suicide prevention and counselling centre.Jeevan officials said Jamshedpur continues to record around 170-180 suicides annually, but the proportion involving students declined between 2016 and 2025. They attributed the trend to regular awareness programmes in secondary and higher-secondary schools, along with counselling services.“Student suicides have increased sharply across India over the past 10 years. In contrast, Jamshedpur has recorded a decline during the same period,” a Jeevan official said.Data shows that 19-20 students died by suicide each year between 2016 and 2019. The number peaked at 25 in 2020 before declining gradually.Officials said school programmes have encouraged early conversations about stress, emotional distress and coping mechanisms, helping students seek support.“Parents have also been encouraged to communicate openly with their children, build trust and understand their emotional needs. A supportive environment at home helps young people manage stress,” Jeevan joint director Gurpreet Kaur said.Around 30 govt and private higher secondary schools in the city and nearby areas regularly participate in the programmes.Jeevan plans to recruit more volunteers, hold counselling sessions more frequently and extend its daily helpline service from eight to 12 hours.“Resilience is not about never struggling. It is knowing that when one part of life falls apart, life itself does not,” said Dr Harshita Biswas, clinical psychologist at Tata Main Hospital.
