A total of 513 students have committed suicide across the country in 2023, which is 19 incidents less than previous year when 532 students reportedly committed suicide.  Though the suicidal figure is a slight decrease in 2023 compared to previous year but not as expected, says Aachol Foundation, a youth-led social organisation dedicated to promoting mental health and well-being in Bangladesh. As cold weather continues, Dhaka’s air quality still ‘unhealthy’ Aachol Foundation released the statistics of suicidal  from the data collected by a group of researchers of the organisation at virtual press conference on Saturday. Among the suicide cases, 227 were school students, which is 44.2 percent of the total number of incidents, 140 were college students, which is 27.2 percent, 98 were university students, which is 19.1 percent, and 48 are madrasa students, which is 9.4 percent of the total students. Good educational institutions can make smart citizens: Saber Hossain Among 513 students, there were 204 male students which is 39.8 percent. On the other hand, there were 309 female students which is 60.2 percent.  Reviewing its research data of 2023, Aachol Foundation found frustration was the biggest reason behind student suicide, which accounted for 165 students or 32.2 percent of the total incidents. After that, 14.8 percent committed suicide due to love affair, 9.9 percent students chose to commit suicide due to mental problems, 6.2 percent due to family dispute, 1.4 percent students committed suicide due to family violence while, 4.5 percent of the students committed suicide due to academic stress, 3.5 percent failed in exams and 1.8 percent failed to achieve desired results in public exams and 2.5 percent committed suicide due to sexual harassment and 0.8 percent committed suicide due to humiliation. Bhola can be 2nd biggest port in Bangladesh: Industries Minister

Some 61.2 percent of young people, aged 18-25, have been suffering from depression during the COVID-19 pandemic, and among them 3.7 percent have attempted suicide. It was revealed in a survey conducted by Aachol Foundation, a student oriented non-profit social organization. The foundation's aim is to create awareness among students about taking care of their mental health. It works primarily to make students aware of mental health and to build them into a skilled, efficient workforce. The survey report was formally disclosed at a virtual press conference on Saturday. Among others, Tansen Rose, founder and president of the Aachol Foundation, Mental health specialist and play therapist Mushtaq Ahmed Imran and officials of the Foundation attended the virtual press conference. Last March, the Aachol Foundation conducted a survey on Suicidal rate during corona situation, which found that about 49% of those who committed suicide were young girls and boys, ages between 18- 35. Also read: Covid patient ‘commits suicide’ in Satkhira To find out the reasons for the rising suicide rate among the young people, the Aachol Foundation conducted a survey titled " thoughts of young people on Suicide and Mental Health" from June 1 to 15, this year. The aim of the survey was to identify reasons behind of committing suicide and finding a way out and finally, it is important to emphasize that everyone take initiative for mental health. A total of 2,026 youths, both girls and boys, took part in the survey. The largest group of participants in the survey was 1,720 young people aged 18-25 or 84.9 percent. A total of 243 people aged 26-30 took part in the survey which is 12 percent of the survey. In addition, 63 people aged 31-35 occupied 3.1 percent of the survey. Among them, the number of women was 1293 or 63.8 percent, while the number of male was 731 or 37.1 per cent and the third sex was 0.10 per cent. Of the 2,026 young people participated surveyed, only 787 (38.6) percent said they did not suffer from depression. However, 1,239 young boys and girls ( 61.2 percent) said they were suffering from depression. Among the participants, 55.7 percent said they don’t get anyone beside them to share their depression or emotional turmoil. Also read: Bangladeshi brothers who killed family in Texas were suffering from ‘depression’ According to the survey, 49.9 percent of young people did not think of suicide but the remaining 50.1 percent thought of committing suicide. Among them, 21.3 percent thought of committing suicide during the corona period. Some 38.1 percent of people thought of suicide but did not attempt suicide. But 8.3 percent thought of suicide, they prepared suicide materials but came back and 3.7 percent of young people tried to commit suicide but they failed. Commenting on the survey, Tansen Rose, founder and president of the Aachol Foundation, said: "young people are the Craftsman to build the country of the future. When young people are suicidal tendency or mentally depressed, it is definitely a bad signal for the country,” he said. Rather, the problem must be solved by finding out the reasons why a young person has suicidal tendency or is emotionally disturbed, he added.