The rising tide of suicides among young Pakistanis is a national emergency that demands our immediate and collective attention. A recent tragedy at the University of Lahore, where a student died by suicide, serves as a stark and painful reminder that this crisis is not a distant statistic but a devastating reality within our communities. These incidents create a momentary wave of shock and sorrow, but the urgency to address the root causes often fades as life moves on, forcing us to confront how seriously we value human life.
The Global and Local Reality of a Silent Crisis
Globally, the numbers are staggering: more than 720,000 people die by suicide every year. In Pakistan, the situation is particularly acute among the youth, who face immense academic, social, and economic pressures. The suicide at the University of Lahore is not an isolated event but a symptom of a larger, often unaddressed, epidemic of mental distress. While families and friends form the first line of support, educational institutions carry a profound responsibility that they cannot abdicate.
Beyond Paper Policies: The Need for Proactive University Support
Most universities in Pakistan, including the University of Lahore, have counselling services or psychologists on paper. However, a critical gap exists in awareness and accessibility. Many students are completely unaware these services exist or hesitate to seek help due to deep-seated stigma surrounding mental health. It is no longer enough for support to be passively available; it must actively reach out to students.
University administrations must implement a multi-pronged strategy:
- Active Engagement: Counsellors should not wait in their offices. They need to conduct regular outreach, workshops, and informal sessions within hostels and common areas to build trust.
- Normalizing Conversations: Regular, mandatory awareness sessions are crucial to normalize discussions about stress, anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. These sessions should also reinforce the value of life, the importance of sharing hardships, and the availability of confidential support.
- De-stigmatizing Help-Seeking: Campaigns led by respected faculty and senior students can powerfully challenge the taboo, encouraging others to come forward without fear of judgment.
A Collective Responsibility to Prevent Future Loss
Life is inherently challenging for many young people in today's competitive environment. However, it is the silence, neglect, and institutional inertia that can make these challenges unbearable. The painful loss at the University of Lahore must serve as a turning point. If we are serious about preventing such tragedies, we must treat mental health with the same urgency as physical health. Educational institutions, policymakers, and society at large must act decisively and compassionately. We must build systems of care that intervene long before a young person feels that suicide is the only way out. The time for reflection is over; the time for concerted action is now.
