Gupta Devesh, Ranjan Rajesh, Singh Meenakshi, Kumar Chandan, Kumar Abhinav, Kathuria Bhawna, Srivastava Tripti
Neuropsychopharmacology, Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Delhi, IND.
Epidemiology, National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, IND.
Cureus. 2025 Jun 11;17(6):e85812. doi: 10.7759/cureus.85812. eCollection 2025 Jun.
Background Academic stress among students preparing for competitive exams like the Indian Institutes of Technology Joint Entrance Examination (IIT JEE) and the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) in India has been increasingly associated with mental health challenges, including suicidal ideation. These two groups represent the largest segments of students preparing for highly competitive exams in India, with distinct academic and societal expectations, making their comparison crucial for targeted interventions. Understanding the demographic profiles, methods of suicide, and temporal trends among these students is crucial for targeted intervention and policy formulation. Methods This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 80 documented suicide cases among IIT JEE and NEET aspirants. Data were sourced from documented reports, such as police records and newspaper articles, to ensure reliability. Demographic information, including age, gender, and native state, along with exam preparation details and suicide characteristics, such as method used, presence of suicide notes, and number of prior attempts, were collected and analyzed. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, odds ratios (OR), and logistic regression to identify significant associations. Results The majority of suicides (81%; n=64) occurred among students aged 15-20 years, predominantly male (77.2%; n=61), and preparing for NEET (73.4%; n=58). Hanging was the most common method (75.9%; n=60), followed by poisoning (5.1%; n=4) and jumping (3.8%; n=3). Suicide notes were found in 22.8% (n=18) of cases. Students with fewer than one prior suicide attempt were significantly more likely to be from Rajasthan (OR 28.00; p<0.0001), as were cases occurring after 2022 (OR 6.05; p<0.0001). Conclusion This study highlights alarming rates of suicide among IIT JEE and NEET aspirants in India, emphasizing the need for targeted mental health support and intervention strategies. The findings underscore the role of academic pressure and geographic variability in suicide risk among these students. Future research should focus on understanding the underlying causes of geographic differences in suicide rates and explore region-specific interventions. Tailored mental health programs addressing local socio-cultural and educational challenges could play a crucial role in mitigating suicide risks in these vulnerable populations.
背景 在印度，准备参加诸如印度理工学院联合入学考试（IIT JEE）和全国资格与入学考试（NEET）等竞争性考试的学生所面临的学业压力，越来越多地与包括自杀意念在内的心理健康挑战相关联。这两类学生代表了印度准备参加高度竞争性考试的最大学生群体，有着不同的学业和社会期望，因此对他们进行比较对于有针对性的干预至关重要。了解这些学生的人口统计学特征、自杀方式和时间趋势对于有针对性的干预和政策制定至关重要。
方法 这项横断面研究分析了80例有记录的IIT JEE和NEET考生自杀案例的数据。数据来源于警方记录和报纸文章等有记录的报告，以确保可靠性。收集并分析了人口统计学信息，包括年龄、性别和籍贯，以及考试准备细节和自杀特征，如使用的方法、是否有自杀遗书以及之前的自杀未遂次数。统计分析包括描述性统计、卡方检验、比值比（OR）和逻辑回归，以确定显著关联。
结果 大多数自杀事件（81%；n = 64）发生在15至20岁的学生中，主要为男性（77.2%；n = 61），且正在准备NEET考试（73.4%；n = 58）。上吊是最常见的自杀方式（75.9%；n = 60），其次是中毒（5.1%；n = 4）和跳楼（3.8%；n = 3）。22.8%（n = 18）的案例中发现有自杀遗书。之前自杀未遂次数少于一次的学生来自拉贾斯坦邦的可能性显著更高（OR 28.00；p < 0.0001），2022年之后发生的案例也是如此（OR 6.05；p < 0.0001）。
结论 本研究突出了印度IIT JEE和NEET考生中令人担忧的自杀率，强调了有针对性的心理健康支持和干预策略的必要性。研究结果强调了学业压力和地理差异在这些学生自杀风险中的作用。未来的研究应侧重于了解自杀率地理差异的潜在原因，并探索针对特定地区的干预措施。针对当地社会文化和教育挑战的量身定制的心理健康项目，可能在降低这些弱势群体的自杀风险方面发挥关键作用。
