Today, 1st August, 2022, I got to know that a senior didi of my college took her own life. A medical student at a premier college.

 

She was in her final year, just a year shy of becoming a doctor. And it all ended today. But mudslinging and pointing fingers won't help us now, what we need is an accountable institution.

 

Cases of students taking their own lives in competitive institutions is nothing new and most unfortunately what is also not new is our response to it. Maybe a couple of statuses, maybe a call-me-if-you-need-me offer.

 

Moreover, suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death in the 15-25 age group. Young adults and their entire lives snuffed out by an entirely preventable health calamity. The least we could do would be to make mental health sensitization a MANDATORY part of the academic curriculum. That will help people, throughout their lives.

 

What we need is a dedicated mental health resource to help with these issues. Because it is not easy to get help. And it is especially not easy for people who are under severe psychological stress, for people whose mental health is compromised. In a country where, a psychiatrist is still called "pagalo ka doctor" and this is stigmatized, we ATLEAST NEED is an on-campus psychologist catering to students.

 

I had raised the same issue earlier in a class but to no avail. Forgive my poorly written plea but please consider making an effort towards this change. we need awareness but more importantly we need action.

 

So I ask you, dear reader, sign and share this petition to be a part of the effort. Help us make it mandatory to have

1) an on-campus resource to help students deal with academic and social stress.

2) mental health sensitization be a mandatory part of the curriculum.