10 October,2026 07:56 AM IST | Mumbai | Aditi Alurkar
Protest being held outside IIT Bombay campus over the death of a 20-year-old student last month. File pic
The death of a 20-year-old student at IIT Bombay last month triggered protests on the Powai campus, with students demanding stronger mental health support. Soon after, they submitted an 18-point draft of demands to the administration, four of which directly addressed mental health services.
Ahead of World Mental Health Day, mid-day spoke to IIT alumni from different decades and current students to understand the pressures they faced during their time at the institutes and the support available to them.
Vinay Somani, an IIT Bombay alumnus who studied there from 1975 to 1980, said the term "mental health" was not widely used during his time and that life at IITs was simpler than it is today. "Only one or two students who scored very high ranks in JEE and could not cope with lower marks at IIT were the ones who had a breakdown. Since times were simpler, most of us would get time for music, sports, hobbies, and friends to take away the stress. We didn't even know about counselling, and we would simply go to our professors for help," said Somani. He said parental pressure and expectations of securing high-paying jobs were not as prominent then.
An alumnus from the 2007 batch said students faced academic pressure while competing with some of the country's brightest minds. During this period, many students realised that their Cumulative Performance Index (CPI) was not the only factor influencing placements and began adding non-academic achievements to their CVs.
"There was a certain societal expectation, since many of my batchmates were the first IIT-ian from their family. However, in today's date, the competition has certainly increased due to the sheer volume of people. Today, the opportunities that society views as a good future have also reduced, taking a toll on student wellness," he said. Friends and hostel âwingies,' or wing-mates, were their main support systems. However, the alumnus said social stigma around seeking professional help discouraged students from approaching counsellors.
A recent alumnus who graduated two years ago said the IIT experience varies depending on the hostel environment. He described an intensely competitive atmosphere, where students face stigma over backlogs and repeating courses.
"I have seen peers get internships with an R1 lakh stipend, but they end up comparing themselves with those that have the Rs 2 lakh internships. Familial pressures are also very high; I have seen parents weep in front of their children after scores," he told mid-day.
Placement packages, media attention around high-earning students, and family expectations add to the pressure.
"It was during the fifth semester when my mental health wasn't the best, ahead of placements. The Student Wellness Centre is accessed by many students for such concerns, and in my experience the help you receive is just alright. However, most students I understand actually reach out to these centres for personal or relationship troubles," he said.
Dr Sreystha Beppari, clinical psychologist at Apollo Clinic, cautioned against assuming that mental health problems are more prevalent today simply because they are more visible. Earlier IITians also faced academic pressure, deadlines, competition, isolation, homesickness, and family expectations, but distress was often normalised as part of success.
"We need to be careful about assuming that mental health difficulties are more prevalent today simply because they are more visible or because people are paying more attention to it," Dr Beppari said. Today, students face constant peer comparison through digital platforms and uncertainty about career stability and technological changes. Artificial intelligence has added concerns about employability, opportunities, and expertise.
Demands submitted to the IIT Bombay director:
. Better in-person counselling
. At least one counsellor for every 250 students
. Independent audits of the Student Wellness Centre (SWC)
. One counsellor in every hostel
. A psychiatrist available 24/7
. A better-equipped hospital
. Mental health sessions for faculty and staff every two month
Dr Pranav Jeevan, who pursued his master's at IIT Kanpur and research at IIT Madras and IIT Bombay, said supervisors can be a major source of stress. "The largest mental health concern may stem from your guide. Some campuses debar you if your CGPA dips below 6.5, so that was an added pressure." Ushak, a PhD graduate from IIT in 2018, said the campus therapist was not very approachable and that the support centre's conversations were not always student-friendly. Coaching institutes' promotion of IIT success stories added pressure, while some students were forced to pursue engineering despite having other interests.
Ankahee All days of the week from 4 pm to 10 pm
8655486966
iCALL From Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 8 pm
9152987821
Hitguj Helpline available round the clock
022- 24131212
