PANAJI
The recent spate of suicides at the BITS Pilani campus in Zuarinagar, Goa has shaken the academic community and raised urgent questions about student mental health. Despite the presence of professional counsellors, psychiatrists, and wellness initiatives on campus, many students in distress remain reluctant to seek help.
Dr Dorine Dias, a psychiatrist with decades of experience, explains that stigma and fear of judgment are among the strongest deterrents with youngsters often worrying that admitting to emotional struggles will make them appear weak or incapable.
In competitive environments like premier institutes, the pressure to perform is immense, and students hesitate to reveal vulnerabilities.
"There is certainly a need for the support systems to be proactive in these institutions. Create safe spaces where the students can speak up openly and share their fears," said Dr Dias who retired from the Directorate of Health Services and is currently in private practice.
The reluctance is not due to lack of resources. BITS Pilani Goa has expanded its mental health support system and paid more attention to it after the recent spate of suicides, including dedicated counsellors, psychiatrists, wellness camps, and a 24/7 helpline.
The Mpower Centre on campus provides professional therapy and psychiatric services. Yet, as Dr Dias points out the availability does not automatically translate into accessibility.
"Unless students feel safe and assured of confidentiality, they will continue to suffer quietly,” Dias added.
This raises the second pressing question: should professionals wait for students to approach them, or be proactive in identifying those at risk?
Counsellors argue that proactive engagement is essential.
“We cannot expect distressed teenagers to always take the first step. Subtle signs -- withdrawal from peers, declining academic performance, or sudden mood changes -- must be noticed by faculty and counsellors,” says another senior clinical psychologist practicing in Panaji.
She preferred anonymity for professional reasons and her lack of knowledge of the exact circumstances related to each of the six suicides which occured at the BITS campus but emphasized the need for regular mental health screenings, informal check-ins, and stronger collaboration between faculty and wellness staff.
Dr Dias meanwhile revealed that the government setup and DHS had begun implementing such measures a few years ago but these programmes are restricted to schools and Higher Secondary Schools.
The wellness review meetings involved district officials, educators, and law enforcement, she added.
However, experts stress that systemic change requires more than institutional protocols and mental health must be normalized in everyday conversations. Students should feel that seeking help is as routine as visiting a doctor for a fever.
The tragedy of repeated suicides underscores a painful truth: silence can be fatal and breaking that silence, vital. Awareness, proactive care, and destigmatization remain the most urgent tasks for campuses across Goa.
