21 September,2026 07:37 AM IST | Mumbai | Vinod Kumar Menon
Representation pic/istock
Could a psychological autopsy help unravel what led a second-year Energy Science and Engineering student to take his own life? Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty said such an assessment could examine the student's emotional state, behaviour, relationships, and pressures in the period before his death, going beyond the immediate examination-related incident.
Mental health experts say suicide is rarely the result of a single trigger. Shame, guilt, isolation, fear of consequences and mounting academic pressure are among the factors that may need to be examined. A psychological autopsy could help reconstruct the student's mental and emotional journey and identify warning signs that may otherwise remain hidden.
The second-year Energy Science and Engineering student was allegedly caught with a gadget during an exam. When questioned by the invigilator, he feared disciplinary action. Hours later, he was found dead in his hostel room. The incident triggered an uproar among students and parents, leading to an FIR against faculty. Mental health experts say the circumstances leading to the death cannot be understood by looking only at the final incident.
Dr Harish Shetty, psychiatrist and member of Maharashtra's Suicide Prevention core team, said a psychological autopsy could help reconstruct the psychological, social and behavioural circumstances before the death, using inputs from family, friends and records.
"Shame and guilt is a suicide cocktail," Dr Shetty warned. He said the focus should not be limited to one incident but should examine the wider circumstances surrounding the student.
>> Was the student overwhelmed by fear of disciplinary action?
>> Had he become increasingly isolated?
>> Was he struggling with personal or academic pressure?
>> Did behavioural changes go unnoticed or get dismissed as temporary?
A psychological autopsy could help examine these.
Dr Bharat Vatwani, Magsaysay Award-winning psychiatrist, described the environment as a "pressure-cooker situation".
Stressors can include:
>> Family expectations
>> In campus sibling rivalry and student-professor dynamics
>> Caste, religious groupism
>> Denial of psychiatric issues and lack of awareness
"The pressure on the student to perform is high⦠suicide may appear as the only release," he said.
Dr Shetty stressed that suicide prevention is not the sole responsibility of mental-health professionals. Faculty, students, staff, parents and security guards should be alert to withdrawal, unusual distress and behavioural changes. High academic performance can mask emotional struggles. A psychological autopsy could also help institutions identify gaps in their support systems.
Dr Shetty cautioned against irresponsible reporting of suicides, particularly on social media. "Copycat suicides can follow among those who are distressed and vulnerable," he said. He stressed the importance of responsible communication to prevent further harm.
For families and classmates, the search for answers begins after a life is lost. A psychological autopsy cannot restore a life, but it can help reconstruct the circumstances before the death and highlight factors that may have been overlooked. Those insights could help institutions identify gaps and strengthen support systems. "India needs a broader mental-health movement," Dr Shetty said. He added that the most important warning sign may not be the final incident, but what happened before it.
>> Talking about wanting to self-harm
>> Feeling hopeless or trapped
>> Severe emotional distress following a personal or professional crisis
>> Withdrawal from family and friends
>> Giving away possessions or saying goodbye
>> Take all talk of self-harm seriously.
>> Ask directly if they are thinking about suicide.
>> Listen calmly without judgement.
>> Let them express feelings openly.
>> Reassure them, help is available.
>> Do not leave them alone.
>> Secure access to means of self-harm.
>> Encourage professional mental-health support.
Dr Vatwani urged campuses to make psychiatric awareness part of student life. "Seeking help early is not wrong and not a sign of weakness," he said, stressing the need for institutions to provide safe environments where students feel comfortable seeking help.
If someone is in immediate danger of self-harm, call 112 or seek urgent medical assistance.
Tele-MANAS - Government of India
14416 or 1-800-891-4416
Free, 24x7 mental-health counselling and support.
AASRA
+91 98204 66726
24x7 suicide-prevention helpline.
Sneha Foundation
+91 44 2464 0050
Emotional support and suicide-prevention services.
