NEW DELHI: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed medical colleges to maintain updated records of student suicides and unnatural deaths and submit a certified Action Taken Report (ATR) every month, following Supreme Court directions on student mental health and safety. It has also asked institutions to fill vacant faculty and key administrative posts within four months.The commission has marked the compliance exercise “MOST URGENT” and asked institutions to accord it top priority.The move comes amid a rise in student suicides. An IHBAS presentation by Dr Om Prakash, Professor of Psychiatry and Head, Department of Geriatric Mental Health, citing NCRB data, said 14,488 student deaths by suicide were recorded in 2024, up 4.3% from 13,892 in 2023. The number rose from 8,068 in 2014 to 14,488 in 2024, an increase of around 80% over the decade. More than 1.15 lakh student deaths by suicide were recorded during 2015-24.For each suicide or unnatural death, colleges have to report the student’s course/year, date and place of occurrence, police intimation, FIR status, institutional inquiry and corrective measures.The NMC has also sought department-wise details of sanctioned, filled and vacant faculty posts, non-teaching vacancies and key administrative positions, including dean/director, medical superintendent, registrar, wardens and counsellors. Colleges have been given four months to fill vacant faculty and key administrative posts, with special recruitment drives for reserved posts. The compliance format also requires 24×7 access to qualified medical assistance on campus or within 1 km.
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The IHBAS presentation highlights the role of faculty as “gatekeepers”, who can often notice changes in attendance, academic performance, withdrawal or behaviour. Faculty are advised to recognise warning signs, approach distressed students, ask directly about suicidal thoughts, facilitate referral and follow up, without taking on the role of therapists.It also cautions against attributing suicide to a single trigger such as examination failure, relationship problems or social media. Academic pressure, fear of failure, bullying, ragging or harassment, discrimination, social isolation and financial difficulties are among the factors identified as contributing to vulnerability.The NMC said information submitted by institutions will be consolidated to monitor compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions and submitted to the Ministry of Education as required.
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