IIT-B to revamp student counselling programme - Hindustan Times

IIT-B to revamp student counselling programme

HT Correspondent, Hindustan Times, Mumbai| Updated: Jun 03, 2015 22:37 IST

After a 23-year-old student at Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B) attempted suicide on Monday, the institute is planning an overhaul of its counselling programmes to help students speak out about their problems instead of taking drastic steps.

Though the student survived the attempt, two others have killed themselves on the campus since September last year.

As part of the revamp, the institute plans to hire more professional mental health experts.

“We are also planning an outreach programme, as part of which students will be trained to spot signs of depression. Lectures on the subject will also be conducted. Depression is a major taboo in our society and that makes it difficult for students to reach out for help. The outreach programme will address that issue as well,” said dean of student affairs at IIT-B Soumyo Mukherjee.

According to sources in the institute, letters will also be sent to parents of first-year students, asking them not to pressurise their wards too much.

“Apart from academic pressure, students are often burdened with unrealistic expectations from their families. We need to address each of these triggers,” said an official from the institute.

IIT-B STUDENT TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF THRICE - Mumbai Mirror

IIT-B STUDENT TRIED TO KILL HIMSELF THRICE

Mumbai Mirror | Jun 4, 2015, 12.00 AM IST

Mumbai Mirror Bureau

The 23-year-old, who is undergoing treatment, repeatedly banged his head against a wall in his hostel room and then slashed his wrists before consuming a poisonous substance.

The IIT-B student who was rushed to a hospital in an unconscious state on Monday morning had made three attempts to kill himself within a few hours, it emerged on Wednesday. 

The 23-year-old first repeatedly banged his head against a wall in his hostel room and then slashed his wrists before consuming a poisonous substance, according to a doctor at Hiranandani Hospital, where the student is being treated. At some point, he started screaming, alerting his hostel mates. 

The student, who is pursuing a dual degree in MSc and PhD in earth sciences, wrote in a suicide note that he had been unwell for some time and he was struggling to cope with academic pressure, the Powai police said. 

The doctor said that the student appeared extremely disturbed — and agitated —after he regained consciousness. He had to be tied down to prevent him from doing any more harm to himself. "His arms and legs were strapped to the bed and he was kept heavily sedated. The doctors said that it was a precautionary measure," a hostel mate said. 

Consultant physician Dr Neeraj Tulara, one of the doctors who monitored the student's condition in the intensive care unit, said: "He is doing fine now. A psychiatrist is attending to him." He added that the patient would be moved out of the ICU in a day or two. 

The student's brother arrived in Mumbai from Delhi on Tuesday. 

The student lived in hostel number 5 on the IIT-B campus. His friends said that unlike some students who had attempted suicide earlier, he was doing well in studies. He had a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 7.5 out of 10, which is considered a good score. 

"He did not seem to have any problem with his studies," said a senior who visited the student in the hospital on Wednesday. 

A hostel mate said that the student was not very social. On Monday morning, people rushed to his room after hearing screams. "We found him writhing in pain. There was a towel around his neck," the hostel mate said. 

Senior inspector YL Jadhav of the Powai police station said that a handwritten suicide note had been recovered from the hostel room. "The note is divided into three parts, addressing his mother, father and the police," Jadhav said. 

The student said in the note that no one should be blamed for his death. He also requested the police not to conduct any inquiry. "We spoke to his friends and they said that he was not suffering from any ailment. But he had complained of severe headaches," said deputy police commissioner (zone X) Vinayak Deshmukh. 

IIT-B public relations officer Rashmi Uday Kumar said that the institute would help the student get proper counselling. "His condition is stable and we hope that he is discharged in a day or two," Kumar said.

IIT-B student who tried to end life now stable - TNN

IIT-B student who tried to end life now stable

TNN | Jun 4, 2015, 01.30AM IST

MUMBAI: Barely a month after a student committed suicide at IIT-Bombay, in May, another one, this time a post-graduate student, attempted suicide at the premier institute in Powai on Monday. Though the student is out of danger, hospital sources said he was still under observation as he had suffered head injuries. The student was not undergoing counselling and academics may not be the problem in this case, claimed the institute. Police said the student tried to kill himself in three ways. 

The PhD student from the earth sciences department initially tried to end his life by hanging. But he fell and suffered head injuries. He then slit his left hand and even consumed some pills. Powai police are awaiting the report to know the nature of the pills he consumed. Before taking the extreme step, according to the police, the student had written two suicide notes, one addressed to his parents and another to the police. 

The note was written in Hindi and English. "In the note addressed to his parents, written mostly in Hindi, he told his mother not to worry about his act. He wrote that he was depressed with the routine chores of life and decided to take the extreme step after deep thought," said a police officer. 

The second note, addressed to the police, asked them to treat the case as one of suicide. Powai police senior inspector Y L Jadhav confirmed that two suicide notes recovered from his hostel room. "The note addressed to us said he was taking the decision to end his life on his own and no one should be held responsible. It said there was no need for the cops to probe the matter. The student is undergoing treatment at Hiranandani hospital," said Jadhav. 

Rashmi Kumar, the institute's spokesperson, said the student's brother has arrived from his hometown in Bihar. "Institute officials have been visiting him in hospital and we will extend counselling support too. He is stable now," she said. The student was initially taken to IIT hospital but had to be shifted to Hiranandani as he suffered head injuries. While the institute offers counselling to all students, TOI earlier reported that less than 2% students actually avail of it. 

The CEO of Powai's LH Hiranandani Hospital, Dr Sujit Chaterjee, confirmed that the student was under their care. "He is doing fine now," he said refusing to divulge any more information about the student's health condition. Sources told TOI that he was in the ICU for better monitoring. 

On May 2, Jitesh Sharma, a third-year chemical engineering student allegedly committed suicide by consuming poisonous chemicals. He was found dead on the terrace of one of the hostels. In September last year, 23-year-old Aniket Ambhore, also fell to his death from the terrace of one of the hostels.

IIT-Bombay student attempts suicide, saved by hostel mates - Mid Day

IIT-Bombay student attempts suicide, saved by hostel mates

By Shreya Bhandary |Posted 03-Jun-2015

The student’s hostel mates say he tried to hang himself but failed; he then popped some pills and began to scream in pain, alerting other students

A student’s attempted suicide rocked the IIT-Bombay campus on Monday. The 23-year-old student, who was pursuing his MTech in Earth Sciences was rushed to the IIT Bombay Hospital and then taken to to the nearby Hiranandani Hospital in Powai, where he is currently recuperating.

Hostel mates say the student had kept three suicide notes, but Powai police said no note was found. File pic

The incident comes in the wake of two students having allegedly committed suicide on the IIT campus since last September. The student was alone in his room in Hostel 5 when he allegedly attempted suicide. According to his hostel mates, he first tried to hang himself, but was unsuccessful and then immediately popped some pills.

“Due to the reaction of these pills, he started screaming in pain and we rushed to his room. He had a towel tied around his neck so we understood what was happening and immediately rushed him to the hospital on campus.

Also Read: Girl student at IIIT Hyderabad commits suicide

The doctors provided an ambulance which rushed him to Hiranandani Hospital,” said one of the students. The incident took place around 7 am on Monday and he was taken to Hiranandani Hospital around 9 am in an unconscious state. With most students away on vacation, very few are currently on campus.

The student’s roommate, too, was not around at the time of the incident. Some students and two senior officials from IIT-Bombay rushed him to the hospital. “He is originally from Bihar and his brother stays in Delhi. His brother reached Mumbai early on Tuesday morning. We are taking turns to stay with him in case he needs help,” said another student.

When mid-day contacted officials at Hiranandani Hospital, they confirmed that the student was admitted to the ICU on Monday morning. “He was brought in unconscious and a stomach wash was done, which showed some pills. He also had a towel tied around his neck but there are no major marks on his neck.

The pills have been sent for tests to check the substance,” said an official. By late Tuesday evening, students said that their friend was conscious and talking and was moved out of the ICU to the general ward.

Suicide note confusion
The Powai police said no suicide note was found but the the student’s hostel mates told mid-day that three suicide notes were found in his room. “He had addressed one suicide note to his mother, another to the police and the third to the institute authorities.

But we are not clear about what was written in them,” said a student. An official from IIT-B said that one suicide note was found. “It seems he had written that no one was to be blamed for his actions. But only the police will know the details as they checked the room after the incident,” said Rashmi Uday Kumar, IIT-B PRO. The authorities at IIT-B said they are regularly checking on the student’s status at the hospital.

“He is doing decently well academically. We are still not sure why he took the step,” said Kumar. Since this is the third such incident on the IIT-B campus since September last year, questions have also been raised on the counselling of students who are always under pressure to perform well. “Counselling in IIT is an ongoing process. Our counsellors also regularly visit hostels and talk to students to understand their problems if any,” she added.

In the past

September 4, 2014: 22-year-old Aniket Ambhore, a fourth-year student pursuing a dual degree in electrical engineering, died after falling from the sixth floor of Hostel 13. Aniket was rushed to Ghatkopar’s Rajawadi Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. It is still unclear whether it was an accident or a suicide.

May 2, 2015: Jitesh Sharma, a third-year chemical engineering student, was found dead on the terrace of a hostel on the campus on May 2. The 21-year-old student was reportedly suffering from depression and had been undergoing counselling for over six months. Sharma’s body was found on the terrace of hostel number 15 B on the campus. Sharma lived in hostel 8.

- See more at: http://www.mid-day.com/articles/iit-bombay-student-attempts-suicide-saved-by-hostel-mates/16260166#sthash.pOz8U3Sr.dpuf