The battle of competition is everywhere — from schools to colleges, from small shops to big malls, from peon-level jobs to high-ranking positions, from average students to highly intelligent ones, from the private sector to government lines — competition exists everywhere. The population in the country is so vast that not everyone can attain what they desire. People express their aspirations through their experiences. However, in the race to outdo each other, people are neglecting their health. Only when one is healthy can they gather the courage to participate in this competition.
But being healthy doesn’t necessarily guarantee success. A physically weak person may possess an exceptional mind and can emerge victorious through intellect. Conversely, a physically strong person might be mentally shallow, driven only by ego, and ultimately face failure. To succeed, a person needs both physical stamina and a sharp, intelligent mind — that’s when the chances of winning multiply.
Yet the battleground is overcrowded with lakhs of young men and women. The mental health of competitors is deteriorating rapidly. And this isn’t a trivial issue — it is a serious national concern. But the political system seems indifferent to the youth’s mental condition. No matter which party is in power, year after year, the condition of college students remains the same. Politicians only seem to care when elections are near.
Meanwhile, the mental health of students is ringing alarm bells. Anxiety among youth is on the rise. Giving speeches on grand stages is easy. Making lofty promises is easy. But working in the public interest — that’s hard for such leaders. Today’s youth are the future of India — a statement we’ve heard too often to still believe it. Many students’ minds are drifting away from their parents' expectations.
Even before COVID-19, students were already struggling with depression and anxiety. When COVID-19 hit, it not only affected India but unleashed devastation across the globe. From children to youth to the elderly — no one was spared from nature’s wrath. COVID-19 served equal punishment to all humanity.
Students were already struggling before the pandemic. COVID-19 merely intensified the psychological burden students were already carrying. This global pandemic confined people to their homes. It felt as if "Queen COVID" had issued a strict global command. Even before COVID, symptoms of serious mental health disorders had started appearing among college students. These symptoms made daily life unbearable, and after COVID, each moment felt like nearing death.
There are numerous causes contributing to students’ mental distress — academic pressure, emotional expectations from parents, constant comparison with others, unstable relationships, and financial insecurity. Students face enormous academic pressure to constantly perform at the top. This results in mental exhaustion and irritability. Parents send their children to college with hope, but are unaware of the turmoil within their minds. These pressures accumulate silently, leading many into full-blown depression and anxiety.
Students often compare themselves to others, which is a destructive habit. Instead, they should reflect on their past mistakes, lessons learned, and self-improvement. Every person has a different destiny. Wait for your turn. Comparing oneself constantly only leads to growing anxiety and depression. If a student remains obsessed with others’ achievements, they may never be able to move forward or fulfil their parents’ dreams.
Before the pandemic, students had a daily routine. They used to socialise with friends, participate in campus activities, and maintain a mental balance. Though depression and anxiety existed even then, the college environment offered a certain joy — outings, laughter, and togetherness. But with the arrival of COVID, all that disappeared. Friendships faded, smiles vanished. Indian students in foreign universities suffered similarly — their dreams left hanging in mid-air as they lost their way during the pandemic.
Lockdown and Online Classes Disrupted Lives
When COVID struck in March 2020, India went into complete lockdown. Colleges shut down, and students were forced to stay home. Online education replaced offline classes. Even after the virus faded, many colleges continued with online classes — a shift that drastically impacted students’ mental health. Students didn’t enjoy online learning the way they did in offline classes. They struggled to focus, got easily distracted, and missed in-person interaction with professors. The silence of closed rooms and the eerie stillness of locked-down streets created a haunting atmosphere. Online classes offered no breaks or fun moments. Students felt imprisoned within their rooms.
Most lacked a college-like environment at home. Network issues and constant screen time damaged their eyes and added to their stress. Many had to wear glasses. The mental pressure persisted. Some had to deal with stressful family environments. Constant arguments at home further disrupted their focus. Academic stress, paired with poor family dynamics, made students even more prone to anxiety and depression. Worry about the future robbed them of sleep. Colleges remained closed, exams got cancelled, and placements were delayed — all affecting morale.
No one expected the pandemic to affect students this badly. The scars it left are still remembered. Many students even lost their lives — victims not just of the virus, but of isolation, fear, and mental torment.
Mental Health Declined Across the Board
Students became anxious about their future and started labelling themselves as failures. During 2020–2021, suicide cases among students skyrocketed. These were the very youths meant to lead the nation forward. If their mental health is neglected, how can they become strong enough to carry that responsibility?
Online counselling and therapy could have helped, but few students opted for it. Some found relief through open communication, but the majority did not. Therapy is just a conversation — an exchange of thoughts. But stigma holds many back. According to the National Crime Records Bureau, student suicides increased from around 10,335 in 2019 to 13,089 in subsequent years. Timely action could have prevented many of these deaths. If parents had arranged special therapy or counselling during lockdown, perhaps some lives would have been saved. Yoga and meditation could also have helped.
The mental health crisis among Indian college students is no longer a trivial issue. It has become a global concern. Depression and anxiety demand serious attention from healthcare services. Even after colleges reopened, students faced difficulty reintegrating. Disease always leaves destruction in its wake. Today, students need to speak openly about their struggles. As a society, we must offer them a new ray of hope. The next generation deserves a chance to rediscover joy, rebuild confidence, and take flight once again.