Shadows of despair: 310 student suicides in 2024
In 2024, 310 students across Bangladesh took their own lives, with 46.1% being secondary-level students, according to a report presented at a press conference organized by the Aanchal Foundation on Saturday (January 18).
The event, titled "Student Suicide in 2024: Collective Initiatives Are Urgent," highlighted alarming trends and urged immediate collective action to address the issue.
Declining suicide rates but uncertain data
The report noted a decline in reported student suicides compared to previous years:
2022: 532 suicides
2023: 513 suicides
2024: 310 suicides
However, the foundation suggested that the apparent reduction might result from underreporting due to political unrest and decreased media coverage rather than an actual decline.
Adolescents at highest risk
The analysis revealed that adolescence, particularly ages 13–19, remains the most vulnerable period for suicide.
Teenagers (13–19 years): 65.7% of suicides
Young adults (20–25 years): 24%
Children (1–12 years): 7.4%
Young adults (26–30 years): 2.9%
Women more vulnerable
The data showed a significant gender disparity in student suicides:
Women: 61% of victims
Men: 38.4%
Others (third gender and transgender): 0.3%
Educational levels and suicide
Secondary school students (SSC or equivalent) accounted for the highest proportion of suicides in 2024:
Secondary school students: 46.1%
Higher secondary students: 19.4%
Undergraduate students: 14.6%
Primary school students: 7.4%
Postgraduate students: 1.9%
Diploma holders: 0.6%
Educated but unemployed individuals: 0.6%
Methods of suicide
Hanging emerged as the most common method, accounting for 83.5% of cases, followed by poisoning (8.7%). Other methods included jumping, drowning, being struck by a train, and ingesting sleeping pills.
"Pride" as a contributing factor
The report identified "pride" as a leading psychological factor behind many suicides, affecting 28.4% of the victims.
Primary school students: 56.5% of pride-related suicides
Secondary and college students: 31.9%
Higher education students: 15.3%
Call for collective action
At the press conference, experts stressed the urgent need for collective initiatives to address the underlying causes of student suicides.
Dr Sayedul Islam Sayed, Psychiatrist, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dr Md Jamal Uddin, Professor and Researcher, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), Barrister Naufal Jamir, Lawyer and Writer, and Tansen Rose, Founding President, Aanchal Foundation spoke a the press conference.
