THE formation of a National Task Force (NTF) by the honourable Supreme Court to address the mental health concerns of students in institutions of higher education, needs to be treated as a much-needed step which should have been taken decades earlier. The trigger for such a step by the honourable apex court came from the increasing numbers of suicides by students in such institutions. The NTF is expected to suggest ways and means to prevent unfortunate incidents of students’ suicides. For this step, Mr. Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Mr. Justice R. Mahadevan will earn national goodwill. Their bench has now directed the Delhi Police to register a First Information Report on the complaints of the family members of two students (of the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi) who committed suicide. The honourable judges stated the two suicides point to a “disturbing pattern” which needed to be addressed. By saying so and by directing formation of a NTF, the two judges have brought to fore a real national concern. Mental health of students of institutions of higher learning is certainly a very major issue that needs to be tackled on an immediate basis.

 

The pressure of studies and high-calibre performance in examinations weighs the young people down, so much so that many of them lose interest in life, and eventually start developing suicidal thoughts. Though most students learn to cope with the pressure somehow, the number of those who cannot do so is also mounting every passing year. This is the actual problem and concern. Of course, it would be a deception of sorts if the larger society does not keep in mind mental health issues of students even at lower layers of education -- like in schools and later in colleges. Modern life-style, tinged by inexplicably high expectations from schools, family and peers also exert very dangerous pressure even on school kids -- as the society has come to recognise over the past couple of decades.

 

Nuclear families, reduced number of children in each home, and rather cold-blooded approach to examinations at all levels is often seen to produce neurotic effects on young minds -- a problem recognised as real by thinkers and educators alike. In view of this, it would be appropriate if the scope of the proposed NTF is enlarged to accommodate concerns about mental health of children in schools as well. This is not to suggest a delay in the mandated work of the NTF directed by the Supreme Court. The attempt here is to bring to fore the reality of mental health concerns of school students as well. A separate Task Force may also be formed later to deal with those aspects of the issue. But time it is for us to understand the depth to which mental health concerns travel, and organise a response appropriately. An important angle to the issue pertains to the overall decline in family values in the larger Indian society. Psychologists and social thinkers have found that the younger generations in average Indian families often carry a deep sense of isolation and bereftness -- thanks to both parents working, and family elders staying away.

 

Though the nuclear family sounded great to begin with say about thirty years ago, its perils are coming to fore menacingly these days, causing a sense of alarm. We realise that tackling the entire range of mental health concerns about young generation would require a complex response by the larger society. Yet, suffice it is at this point to acknowledge that the honourable Supreme Court has found the right inclination to look at the issue in some depth -- which is welcome. Juvenile and adolescent mental health should be a matter of larger concern -- which is indicated by the initiative to form a Task Force by the Supreme Court.