A Tragic Story From Kota: Another Life Taken Amid NEET Preparation
Teenager seeking medical career ends life one day before NEET-UG test in Kota city
Kota, India - The city of Kota, known as the "Coaching Capital," tragically witnessed another suicide of a student preparing for the NEET. The victim, a 17-year-old girl, hailed from Madhya Pradesh and was residing in Kota with her family.
The heartbreaking incident unfolded on Saturday evening, just a night before the NEET exam scheduled for Sunday. The girl was found hanging on the second floor of her residence while her family members were downstairs. Her father, upon discovering her, immediately called the authorities to summon an ambulance, but it was too late. She was subsequently declared dead at a local hospital.
Notably, the young aspirant was also enrolled in a prominent coaching center in the city and was fully prepared to take the NEET exam the next day. The authorities are yet to recover any suicide note, and an autopsy was conducted at night.
Sadly, this is not an isolated incident. Rajasthan has borne the brunt of similar tragedies this year, with 16 students ending their lives, 15 of which were in Kota itself. Last year, a total of 23 students lost their lives under similar circumstances, marking a concerning trend.
The Toll of Competitive Exam Pressure
Kota draws thousands of students every year, primarily from across the country, to prepare for entrance exams like NEET and JEE. The grueling preparation, combined with the pressure to excel and the stress of being away from home, often leads to feelings of isolation and mental distress among the students.
According to police data, the number of suicide cases has fluctuated over the years, with a peak of 18 in 2015, dropping significantly to just 7 in 2017 before rising again. However, it's important to note that this data doesn't account for the years when coaching institutes were shut or operated online due to the pandemic.
Seeking Help
In light of the rising number of suicides among NEET and JEE aspirants, it's crucial to prioritize mental health support. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out to one of the following helplines:
- Aasra: +91-22-27546669
- Sneha India Foundation: +91-44-24640050
- Sanjivini: +91-11-24311918
- Roshni Foundation (Secunderabad): +91-40-66202001, 66202000
- ONE LIFE: +91-7893078930
- SEVA: +91-9441778290
- The tragic incident in Kota reflects the hardships endured by young Indians, striving to succeed in high-pressure environments like cricket, business, and education-and-self-development, such as NEET and JEE.
- Seeking help for mental health is crucial, and there are numerous resources available, including health-and-wellness services like Aasra, Sneha India Foundation, Sanjivini, Roshni Foundation, ONE LIFE, and SEVA.
- Innocent lives are being lost in pursuit of covid-19 sciences and aspirations, raising questions about the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between competition and well-being, particularly in India.
- Mental health issues, caused by the strain of excessive learning, have increasingly become a critical concern for India, resulting in suicides among students like the 17-year-old girl preparing for NEET.
- Countering the trend of mental health challenges in competitive exam preparation centers like Kota, science and education leaders must prioritize mental health initiatives alongside their teaching syllabi to ensure the holistic well-being of India's future.
