School students make up 49.4% suicide deaths in 2024: Study
The highest number of suicides were committed by people aged 13-19, which accounted for 65.7% of the total suicides
Highlights
- 310 students died by suicide last year
- 61% of the dead are female students
- Highest cases involve 13-19 age group
- Dhaka division reports 29% cases
- Parents urged to prioritise children's mental well-being.
At least 310 students from schools, colleges, universities, and madrasas across Bangladesh died by suicide in 2024, according to a survey by Aachol Foundation.
Among them, 49.4% were schoolgoers, underscoring an alarming trend of rising suicides among young learners.
The report, presented at a virtual press conference titled "Student Suicides in 2024: Now is the Time to Take Action", analysed data from 105 local and national newspapers.
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It revealed that 46% of the dead were secondary school students, marking this group as particularly vulnerable.
Apart from this, the number of suicides among college students in 2024 is also significant. The trend of suicide among undergraduate students is increasing. Madrasa students are also among the deceased.
According to the survey data, the highest number of suicides were committed by people aged 13-19, which accounted for 65.7% of the total suicides. The lowest number of suicides were committed by people aged 26-30.
Female students at higher risk
The findings showed that 189 of the 310 students, or 61%, were girls. This figure indicates that female students are at a greater risk of suicide and in urgent need of mental health support.
The survey report says that last year, the highest number of suicides reported in Dhaka division, 29%. Next are Khulna and Chattogram divisions. The lowest was in Sylhet division.
According to the Aachol Foundation, the high rate of suicide among students is linked to depression caused by uncontrolled emotions and fragile mental stability.
A decline in cases, but concerns remain
The number of student suicides in 2024 marked a decline from previous two years -- 532 student suicides were reported in 2022, with the figure slightly decreasing to 513 in 2023.
The foundation attributed this drop to underreporting, potentially due to political circumstances last year.
The organisation stressed the need for addressing these issues with immediate interventions.
Call for action
Jamal Uddin, a professor of statistics at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), emphasised the need for mental health services at the university level. He also recommended training school and college teachers to provide mental health support.
Dr Sayedul Islam from Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University pointed out that societal norms often celebrate success but fail to teach students how to cope with failure, contributing to mental health struggles. He urged parents to prioritize their children's mental well-being.
Aachol Foundation founder Tansen Rose and lawyer Naufel Jamir echoed these sentiments, calling for a collective effort to address the growing crisis. They stressed the importance of increasing awareness, providing mental health support, and equipping families and educators with the tools needed to help at-risk students.
