Psychiatric interventions and suicide prevention in India’s coaching centers - Framework development from Kota’s experience

Sep 29, 2026

The competitive entrance examination system in India has triggered a mental health crisis among students, particularly in coaching centers such as Kota, Rajasthan, where suicides persist despite increased awareness and policy action. This viewpoint examines neurodevelopmental and sociocultural stressors in coaching environments, critiques policy gaps, and proposes a comprehensive three-tier prevention framework. The model integrates universal support, early identification, and crisis response, with implementation options for varied resource settings.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages7

Reading Time18 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Introduction

Adolescent Neurodevelopment and Vulnerability

Sociocultural Context

VIEWPOINT Psychiatric interventionsand suicide prevention in India’s coaching centers: Framework development from Kota’s experience Ashok Seervi, Indraja Sharma1 Department of Psychiatry, Dr. S.N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 1Department of Psychiatry, Pacific Medical College and Hospital, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India ABSTRACT The competitive entrance examination system in India has led to a concerning mental health crisis among students, especially in coaching centers such as Kota, Rajasthan, where student suicides persist despite greater awareness and policy intervention. This viewpoint paper examines the neurodevelopmental and sociocultural stressors affecting adolescent students in coaching environments, critiques existing policy gaps, and proposes a comprehensive three-tiered prevention framework for integrating mental health support within coaching ecosystems. The framework encompasses universal support mechanisms, targeted early identification protocols, and crisis response systems to reduce psychological distress and promote resilience in high-stakes academic settings. Implementation models distinguish between minimal and ideal components to accommodate diverse resource settings, while maintaining evidence-based prevention principles. The framework addresses stakeholder concerns through culturally adapted interventions that reconceptualize mental health support as integral to educational environments, rather than an ancillary service. For Indian psychiatry, this crisis necessitates expanded professional roles that encompass prevention, consultation, and the development of educational systems beyond traditional clinical treatment. Sustainable solutions require collaborative partnerships between coaching institutions, mental health professionals, families, and policymakers to create environments where academic excellence and psychological well-being are mutually reinforcing rather than competing priorities. Key words: Academic stress, coaching institutes, mental health prevention, student suicide prevention INTRODUCTION Student suicide represents the critical public health crisis in India. The National Crime Records Bureau documented over 170,000 suicide deaths in 2022, with students accounting for 7 .6% and 2,248 deaths attributed to exam failure.[1] This crisis is particularly pronounced in Kota, Rajasthan, the coaching Address for correspondence: Dr. Ashok Seervi, Department of Psychiatry, DR. SN Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. E‑mail: [dr.ashokmedicaledu@gmail.com](dr.ashokmedicaledu@gmail.com) Submitted: 26‑May‑2025, Revised: 25‑Sep‑2025, Accepted: 12‑Nov‑2025, Published: 18‑Dec‑2025 | Access this article online | | | --- | --- | | Website:
[https://journals.lww.com/indianjpsychiatry](https://journals.lww.com/indianjpsychiatry) | Quick Response Code | | | | | DOI:
10.4103/indianjpsychiatry_537_25 | | capital of India, where academic pressure and psychological vulnerability converge among students preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE). A recent newspaper-based analysis of 491 student suicide cases (2019–2023) identified Kota asthe most common reported place for student suicide cases (N = 63) .[2] Despite media coverage and policy intervention, Kota recorded 26 student suicides in 2023, 17 in 2024, and 14 by mid-2025.[3] Concurrently, the coaching industry has experienced declining revenue and enrolment. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution‑NonCommercial‑NoDerivatives 4.0 License (CC BY‑NC‑ ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal. For reprints [contact:](contact: WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com)[ WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com](contact: WKHLRPMedknow_reprints@wolterskluwer.com)

FAQs

What problem does this viewpoint paper address?

It addresses the ongoing mental health crisis and student suicides associated with India’s high-stakes coaching center environment, especially in Kota, Rajasthan.

What are the core components of the proposed prevention framework?

The framework includes universal support mechanisms, targeted early identification protocols, and crisis response systems integrated into coaching ecosystems.

How does the framework support different resource settings?

It provides implementation models that distinguish between minimal and ideal components, allowing adaptation while preserving evidence-based prevention principles.

Sep 29, 2026

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