Unveiling Student Suicides in the Post-Pandemic Period: A Retrospective Analysis of Online News Portals in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background and Aims The post-COVID-19 pandemic period has heightened concerns about student mental health and suicide risk in Bangladesh. While studies have explored these issues during the pandemic, post-pandemic student suicides remain under-researched. This study investigates the characteristics, methods, and triggering events associated with suicidal behaviors among students in Bangladesh during the post-pandemic period (2022–2023). Methods Data were collected from 150 online newspaper portals in Bangladesh, covering student suicides from 2022 to 2023. Variables such as causes, methods, timing, location, sex, age, and education level were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, SPSS, and ArcGIS. Results A total of 984 student suicide cases were identified. Females accounted for 61% of the cases, while males represented 39%, indicating a higher vulnerability among female students. The majority of cases (72.5%) involved students aged 13–19 years, followed by those aged 20–25 years (18.4%). Secondary school students represented 44.9% of the cases, with 7.2% from madrasahs. Hanging was the most common method (79.7%). Major causes included emotional distress (28%), romantic relationship issues (19.5%), academic pressure (8.4%), family problems (8.1%), mental instability (7%), and sexual harassment (3.3%). The Dhaka division reported the highest rate (27.8%) of student suicides. Suicide rates were lowest in August 2022 (4.3%) but spiked in 2023 (12.6%). Conclusion This study highlights the significant rise in student suicides in Bangladesh after the pandemic, primarily driven by emotional distress, with females and the 13–19-year age group being most vulnerable. These findings emphasize the urgent need for gender-specific mental health interventions to address this growing issue.