The tragic suicide of a 16-year-old class-10 student in Delhi — allegedly after prolonged mental harassment by teachers — has exposed serious failures in how Indian schools approach student mental health. Despite CBSE and CISCE requirements for full-time counsellors, India Today reports many schools treat these roles as a checkbox exercise rather than meaningful support.

Teachers interviewed anonymously said they're often overworked and undertrained. They struggle to identify warning signs, while counsellors lack autonomy — often reporting to school principals instead of independent mental-health experts. Many schools lack private spaces for counselling, forcing students to share rooms with staff.

Parents, teachers and experts are now pushing for clearer protocols, independent oversight, and better training. The Delhi government has responded: a high-level inquiry panel is investigating the case, and all schools in the capital have been asked to report on their compliance with CBSE’s psychological well-being guidelines.