Trigger warning: Teen commits suicide after failing ninth grade subject

Trigger warning: Suicide/Self Harm

RAHIM YAR KHAN: While Pakistani educational boards are announcing result for Secondary School Certificates (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificates (HSSC), there are students who might be under immense pressure for not performing well.

In one such case, a female student committed suicide after failing in just one subject out of many that are taught in grade 9, police said on Wednesday.

According to details, the 16-year-old girl from Sakhi Sarwar Colony in Rahim Yar Khan was dealing with depression. Fearing potential family criticism, she locked herself in a room and took her life by shooting herself with a gun.

Following necessary legal procedures, the authorities handed over the body to the family.

Read: Study: Mindfulness goes beyond personal well-being?

Mental health is a prevalent issue in developing countries like Pakistan, frequently remaining undiagnosed due to the social and cultural stigma associated with it. In 2012, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported an estimated suicide rate of 7.5 per 100,000 individuals in Pakistan, translating to approximately 13,000 suicides, including teen suicides, that year. 

By 2016, this figure had lowered to 2.9 per 100,000, indicating that over 5,500 individuals had taken their own lives but World Bank data says it rose to 8.9 per 100,000 individuals in 2019.