Dhaka: ‘I am in a state that likens water overflowing from the glass. I don’t belong anywhere. No one wants me.’ Those words came quietly from Suma (pseudonym), a student found on the brink of a suicide attempt inside a Dhaka educational institution. The incident unfolded during an ordinary academic day. After consecutive classes, during the tiffin break, a teacher of a top college in Dhaka was preparing to have lunch when a student rushed in with an urgent warning that Suma was attempting to take her own life. She was found alone on a second-floor balcony, carrying tablets, with visible old self-inflicted injuries on her hand. She was immediately brought to safety.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Suma’s story is one among many, revealing a growing mental health crisis among adolescents in Bangladesh. Suma recounted a life of neglect and trauma, beginning with the loss of her mother at a young age and living in a fragmented household with a stepfamily. Her childhood was marked by emotional neglect, lack of protection, and physical abuse. As she matured, basic needs like food and safety were often uncertain. By adolescence, she supported herself through private tutoring, but faced increasing suspicion and restrictions at home, which led to feelings of hopelessness and self-harm tendencies.
Suma’s case, while stabilized temporarily through a safer living arrangement and academic support, highlights the fragile nature of recovery. She later married a colleague, Rakib (pseudonym), but left the relationship shortly after due to emotional distress. Further conversations revealed her struggle with identity confusion, compounded by a traumatic history of childhood sexual abuse by a close relative. Professor Kazi Lutfunnesa from the Brighter Tomorrow Foundation emphasized that such cases are increasingly visible among adolescents facing multiple vulnerabilities.
Mental health experts warn of a silent crisis among adolescents in Bangladesh, with emotional distress often hidden until it reaches a critical point. Professor Dr Farzana Rahman, from the National Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, stated that adolescent suicide risk accumulates over time due to emotional neglect, academic pressure, family conflict, and unresolved trauma. She highlighted the impact of strict parenting and excessive academic expectations on increasing vulnerability, along with emerging digital risks such as cyberbullying.
Data from Aachol Foundation shows a troubling trend of student suicides, with adolescents aged 13-19 accounting for nearly two-thirds of cases, and females being disproportionately affected. In 2025, 403 students from various educational institutions committed suicide, with the highest number of cases at the school level. Tansen Rose, president of the foundation, noted that adolescents remain the most vulnerable group due to academic pressure, identity conflict, and family instability.
In response to the crisis, the government has launched a pilot initiative under the Directorate of Secondary and Higher Education, partnering with mental health service provider ‘Moner Bondhu’ to conduct awareness training for teachers and students. This initiative aims to reach around 20,000 students and contribute to a national-level research paper for future prevention policies.
Suma’s journey underscores the urgent need for early mental health intervention in Bangladesh’s education system. Despite some progress in providing mental health services, Prof Rahman emphasized the significant gap in access to treatment, with research indicating that 92% of those in need remain outside the coverage of mental health care. Efforts by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, along with several organizations, aim to address this gap and improve mental health support.
Social activists call for increased budgetary allocation for mental health, strengthening expert-led helplines, and expanding counseling centers to grassroots levels. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the global target is to reduce the suicide rate by one-third by 2030. While developed countries have made progress, the burden of suicide remains highest in low- and middle-income countries, highlighting the need for targeted interventions in nations like Bangladesh.