Never Alone: Confronting the Silent Mental Health Crisis Among Students

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, has launched a new digital initiative, the Never Alone app, aimed at supporting students facing stress, anxiety, and mental health challenges. The app provides a confidential and accessible platform for students to seek help and connect with mental health resources.

Rising Concern Over Student Mental Health

According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), student suicides accounted for 7.6% of all suicides in India in 2022, with 13,044 student deaths recorded that year compared to 6,654 in 2013, reflecting a 4% annual increase over the past decade.

A multi-state survey involving 8,542 college students across nine states found that 12.4% had considered suicide during their lifetime, and 6.7% had attempted suicide. The same study reported 33.6% of students experienced moderate to severe depression and 23.2% reported moderate to severe anxiety ¹

These figures highlight the urgent need for preventive strategies and accessible mental health care for young people.

Features of the Never Alone App

The Never Alone app, developed by AIIMS Delhi, seeks to address this gap by offering:

• 24/7 mental health support with self-help tools for stress, anxiety, and depression.

• offers 24/7 virtual and offline consultations with mental health experts through a web-based app accessible via WhatsApp.

• personalised and secure mental health screening for just 70 paise per student per day for institutions with 5 thousand students.

• Educational resources on mental health and well-being, tailored to the needs of young people.

According to AIIMS faculty, the app was designed after repeated consultations with students and mental health experts. The goal is to make help available in a format that students are comfortable using, digitally and privately.

Importance of Timely Support

Experts emphasize that many students do not seek help due to stigma, lack of awareness, or limited access to counseling services. Mobile-based mental health platforms like Never Alone can provide an early point of contact and bridge the gap between students and professional care.

Dr. M. Srinivas, Director of AIIMS, noted during the launch that the app is part of a larger institutional effort to strengthen student well-being and prevent mental health crises on campus.

Broader Implications

The introduction of Never Alone also aligns with global recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), which stresses the need for accessible, stigma-free mental health services for adolescents and young adults. WHO has identified suicide as the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds globally, underscoring the scale of the challenge.

After AIIMS Delhi launched this app, AIIMS Bhubaneswar is also set to follow through and launch it in the state.

References

1. Gupta, S., et al. “Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety, and Suicidality among College Students in India: A Multi-State Study.” Frontiers in Public Health, 2024. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11572450/.

2. National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB). Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India 2022. Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, 2023. https://ncrb.gov.in/en/accidental-deaths-suicides-india.

3. Business Standard. “Student Suicides in India Soar 4% Annually, Exceeding National Average.” 2024. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/student-suicides-in-india-soar-4-annually-exceeding-national-average-124021500456_1.html.

4. World Health Organization (WHO). Suicide Worldwide in 2019: Global Health Estimates. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2021. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240026643.

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