Survey: Students in Kota are stressed and over 1% suffers from clinical depression; Govt. says statistics are concerning

A survey conducted by the Rajasthan state government states that a significant number of students in Kota are stressed, and over 1% of them suffer from clinical depression. The authorities have said that these statistics are concerning, given the growing number of suicides in the education hub, which has reached a record high of 26 this year.

Kota, also known as India's coaching factory, is home to over 2.5 lakh students who prepare for entrance examinations at any given point in time. Many of these students come from small towns and villages across the country and flock to the city for coaching. Medical teams visited hostels and paying guest accommodations of students preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and then compiled their findings into the report.

During the course of their research, the teams interacted with around 6,000 students and administered a questionnaire to them. The questionnaire included questions such as, "Do you experience difficulty sleeping?", "Do you feel overwhelmed with academic pressure?", "Are you experiencing stress?", and "Are you able to enjoy a normal life like children your age?” The findings revealed that out of the 6,000 students, 83 were clinically depressed, and the rest reported feeling stressed due to the intense competition to crack the entrance examinations to get into the country's leading institutes. Many of the students who participated in the survey had come from distant places and felt lonely due to the absence of friends and family in Kota, which also contributed to their stress levels. Psychologists who have worked with students in the education hub confirmed that being placed in an unfamiliar environment at such a young age is challenging. They added that the cut-throat competition for limited seats only exacerbates the situation.

Jagdish Soni, who serves as the Chief Medical Health Officer in Kota, believes that there are two or three primary reasons why students in the region experience depression. Some of these children come to Kota straight from Class 9 or 10, and at such a young age, they fail to cope with the intense competition. When they see other students doing better than them, they begin to feel like they don't know anything. This feeling of inadequacy can lead to depression.

Surveys were conducted to determine which students was experiencing depression. Those found to be suffering from this mental illness are undergoing counseling and treatment, and efforts are being made to identify other students who may be struggling. The government is taking steps to try and ease the students' burden, and coaching centers have also been asked to focus on promoting their mental health and well-being.