IIT Madras suicide: Student did not seek professional counselling
‘Combination Of Several Factors Led To His Death’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:23.09.2018
The one thing Shahal Kormath should have done about his angst has to have walked into the counsellor clinic on the IIT-M campus.
The 23-year-old, who ended his life in his hostel room on Saturday, had been doing a dual degree in naval architecture and had passed seven semesters without much trouble. But when his performance dropped in the eighth semester, he requested professors not to inform his parents. In the next semester, he did not improve and fell short of attendance. “Most students who join IIT clear very tough entrances. Most of the time there is a strong reason for performances to drop. His friends and he did not realise they wouldn’t be able to handle problems without professional help,” said director Baskar Ramamurthi.
When a system-generated mail about his poor attendance was sent to his parents with a copy marked to him earlier this week, he panicked. “We did not suspect anything because he has been speaking to his friends and brother,” Ramamurthi said.
Students said they were told not to speak to the media. “It is not one isolated incident that led to his death. It is a combination of many things including academic pressure, personal and family issues. Such deaths are extremely difficult to handle for his hostel mates and friends,” said a second year student, speakingon condition of anonymity.
Psychiatrists warn that suicides on campuses often happen in clusters.
“We call it copycat syndrome. One suicide can trigger many others...,” said Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, who was part of the task force appointed to investigate suicides in IITs and centrally-funded educational institutions. At least four students ended their lives at IIT-M in 2015-16. “Administrators should ensure it doesn’t happen again,” she said.
The first step to prevention, she said, was being open about the facts. When an incident is truthfully described there is less room for rumours.
And this should be followed with meetings where students are asked what they would do in similar situations. “This will give them the confidence to deal with problems or at least seek professional help.”
An IIT-M professor said they would hold a condolence meet where his friends and others would speak on how they would deal with the issue.
“We will also speak to his close friends individually. But overall, we will be telling students that they should not be scared or shy to ask for help,” he said.
Jamuna hostel where 23-year-old Shahal Kormath ended his life on Saturday
‘Combination Of Several Factors Led To His Death’
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:23.09.2018
The one thing Shahal Kormath should have done about his angst has to have walked into the counsellor clinic on the IIT-M campus.
The 23-year-old, who ended his life in his hostel room on Saturday, had been doing a dual degree in naval architecture and had passed seven semesters without much trouble. But when his performance dropped in the eighth semester, he requested professors not to inform his parents. In the next semester, he did not improve and fell short of attendance. “Most students who join IIT clear very tough entrances. Most of the time there is a strong reason for performances to drop. His friends and he did not realise they wouldn’t be able to handle problems without professional help,” said director Baskar Ramamurthi.
When a system-generated mail about his poor attendance was sent to his parents with a copy marked to him earlier this week, he panicked. “We did not suspect anything because he has been speaking to his friends and brother,” Ramamurthi said.
Students said they were told not to speak to the media. “It is not one isolated incident that led to his death. It is a combination of many things including academic pressure, personal and family issues. Such deaths are extremely difficult to handle for his hostel mates and friends,” said a second year student, speakingon condition of anonymity.
Psychiatrists warn that suicides on campuses often happen in clusters.
“We call it copycat syndrome. One suicide can trigger many others...,” said Dr Lakshmi Vijayakumar, who was part of the task force appointed to investigate suicides in IITs and centrally-funded educational institutions. At least four students ended their lives at IIT-M in 2015-16. “Administrators should ensure it doesn’t happen again,” she said.
The first step to prevention, she said, was being open about the facts. When an incident is truthfully described there is less room for rumours.
And this should be followed with meetings where students are asked what they would do in similar situations. “This will give them the confidence to deal with problems or at least seek professional help.”
An IIT-M professor said they would hold a condolence meet where his friends and others would speak on how they would deal with the issue.
“We will also speak to his close friends individually. But overall, we will be telling students that they should not be scared or shy to ask for help,” he said.
Jamuna hostel where 23-year-old Shahal Kormath ended his life on Saturday
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