Mumbai: Experts seek psychological autopsy to understand student’s death beyond exam incident

Could a psychological autopsy help unravel what led a secondyear Energy Science and Engineering student to take his own life Psychiatrist Dr Harish Shetty said such an assessment could examine the studentrsquos emotional state behaviour relationships and pressures in the period before his death going beyond the immediate examinationrelated incidentMental 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 studentrsquos mental and emotional journey and identify warning signs that may otherwise remain hiddenThe flashbackThe secondyear 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 incidentBeyond the immediate triggerDr Harish Shetty psychiatrist and member of Maharashtrarsquos 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 recordsldquoShame and guilt is a suicide cocktailrdquo Dr Shetty warned He said the focus should not be limited to one incident but should examine the wider circumstances surrounding the studentQuestions that need answersgtgt Was the student overwhelmed by fear of disciplinary actiongtgt Had he become increasingly isolatedgtgt Was he struggling with personal or academic pressuregtgt Did behavioural changes go unnoticed or get dismissed as temporaryA psychological autopsy could help examine theseA pressure cooker of expectationsDr Bharat Vatwani Magsaysay Awardwinning psychiatrist described the environment as a ldquopressurecooker situationrdquoStressors can includegtgt Family expectationsgtgt In campus sibling rivalry and studentprofessor dynamicsgtgt Caste religious groupismgtgt Denial of psychiatric issues and lack of awarenessldquoThe pressure on the student to perform is highhellip suicide may appear as the only releaserdquo he saidA campuswide responsibilityDr Shetty stressed that suicide prevention is not the sole responsibility of mentalhealth 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 systemsThe danger after a tragedyDr Shetty cautioned against irresponsible reporting of suicides particularly on social media ldquoCopycat suicides can follow among those who are distressed and vulnerablerdquo he said He stressed the importance of responsible communication to prevent further harmBeyond lsquowhyrsquoFor 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 ldquoIndia needs a broader mentalhealth movementrdquo Dr Shetty said He added that the most important warning sign may not be the final incident but what happened before itWarning signs that need immediate attentiongtgt Talking about wanting to selfharmgtgt Feeling hopeless or trappedgtgt Severe emotional distress following a personal or professional crisisgtgt Withdrawal from family and friendsgtgt Giving away possessions or saying goodbyeHow to help someone at riskgtgt Take all talk of selfharm seriouslygtgt Ask directly if they are thinking about suicidegtgt Listen calmly without judgementgtgt Let them express feelings openlygtgt Reassure them help is availablegtgt Do not leave them alonegtgt Secure access to means of selfharmgtgt Encourage professional mentalhealth supportNormalising the cry for helpDr Vatwani urged campuses to make psychiatric awareness part of student life ldquoSeeking help early is not wrong and not a sign of weaknessrdquo he said stressing the need for institutions to provide safe environments where students feel comfortable seeking helpMental health and suicide prevention helplinesIf someone is in immediate danger of selfharm call 112 or seek urgent medical assistanceTeleMANAS mdash Government of India14416 or 18008914416Free 24x7 mentalhealth counselling and supportAASRA91 98204 6672624x7 suicideprevention helplineSneha Foundation91 44 2464 0050Emotional support and suicideprevention services