The Fatal Search For Reflected Glory
Careers 360|April 2017

Failing to meet expectations is driving students to the verge of suicide. Unfortunately, some do succumb. What leads to such a bleak situation?

Shivani Manchanda
The Fatal Search For Reflected Glory

The pressure cooker environment that young students live under is evidenced by the large number of suicides the coaching towns in India like Kota report (57 suicides in 5 years). The 2016 report released by the Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health indicated that suicide is becoming one of the largest causes of death amongst the 10 to 24 year-olds with close to 60,000 suicides reported in 2013. Other studies also link academic stress amongst students to depression and suicide. So what makes the young students more vulnerable to the pressures they face?

Vulnerability of the youth

Neuroscience research evidences that human brains are not completely developed till midtwenties. Imagine the tightrope that cognitively underdeveloped, 16-18-year-olds walk to make a career choice balancing their own and their parent’s preferences. To make matters worse academic institutions neither provide extensive course information on their websites or offer robust career counselling mechanisms. In this scenario, it comes as no surprise that families continue to make traditional career choices and the interests of a student are sacrificed.

Does the blame fall on parents?

Esta historia es de la edición April 2017 de Careers 360.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición April 2017 de Careers 360.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE CAREERS 360Ver todo
The 50 colleges in 5 countries where most Indians go for MBBS abroad
Careers 360

The 50 colleges in 5 countries where most Indians go for MBBS abroad

Data on countries and colleges from the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) 2022 - the latest available - shows that most Indians who completed medical degrees abroad and wrote the FMGE went to five countries.

time-read
2 minutos  |
May 2024
Foreign medical colleges: Look before you leap
Careers 360

Foreign medical colleges: Look before you leap

A close look at foreign medical colleges that thousands of Indians have graduated from shows that many are unaccredited, don’t have hospitals or even their own websites

time-read
7 minutos  |
May 2024
'Either I clear FMGE or leave the country'
Careers 360

'Either I clear FMGE or leave the country'

After spending lakhs on MBBS degrees abroad, thousands spend years trying to clear the FMGE. That is the only option for Indian graduates of foreign medical colleges to build a career in India

time-read
7 minutos  |
May 2024
Why hundreds of nursing graduates leave India each year
Careers 360

Why hundreds of nursing graduates leave India each year

There has been an increase in nursing institutes over the past two decades but policy gaps, lax regulations, poor pay and opportunities are pushing a large number of nursing staff to seek opportunities abroad

time-read
8 minutos  |
May 2024
In Kashmir, why NEET and JEE candidates flock to private reading halls to prepare for exams
Careers 360

In Kashmir, why NEET and JEE candidates flock to private reading halls to prepare for exams

These are accessible round-the-clock, even on public holidays, have private cabins and booths, kitchen, discussion area and some, even places for napping

time-read
4 minutos  |
May 2024
Battling despair and depression in medical school
Careers 360

Battling despair and depression in medical school

Long hours, bullying, lack of support make a difficult programme tougher for medical students. They hope for clear guidelines from the NMC

time-read
5 minutos  |
May 2024
This father-daughter duo uncovered a scam in NEET admissions in West Bengal
Careers 360

This father-daughter duo uncovered a scam in NEET admissions in West Bengal

Several generalcategory students had secured admission in medical colleges with forged ST certificates. Ishita Soren spotted the names, and her father followed up

time-read
4 minutos  |
May 2024
'Forced to take up bonded labour
Careers 360

'Forced to take up bonded labour

There's massive resistance to a state policy in Karnataka that requires even private medical college graduates to do one year's mandatory rural service

time-read
6 minutos  |
May 2024
‘A routine circus': PG medical students lobby, move court to get stipends
Careers 360

‘A routine circus': PG medical students lobby, move court to get stipends

Despite NMC orders, many medical colleges still seriously underpay resident doctors and threaten them into silence. In government colleges, stipends can be delayed for months

time-read
5 minutos  |
May 2024
Why Mizoram wants centre to take over its only medical college
Careers 360

Why Mizoram wants centre to take over its only medical college

Mizoram got its first state medical college in 2018. In 2023, it asked the union government to take over. Mixed up in this are questions of funding, MBBS seat distribution

time-read
6 minutos  |
May 2024