Islamabad: Financial stress from rapidly rising tuition fees in private medical colleges, fear of failure, pressure from families and institutions, and lack of mental health support are pushing students toward suicide, senior psychiatrists and mental health experts warned on Thursday.
Experts said the high cost of medical education in Pakistan has added a heavy burden on students and families, often forcing students into debt or financial hardship.
Combined with intense academic competition, parental expectations for high grades, lack of counselling services, and in some cases substance use and untreated psychological distress, these pressures are contributing to a growing number of suicide attempts and deaths among young men and women.
Mental health experts also warned that social isolation is a major but often overlooked risk factor, particularly for students living away from home. Students who have weak or no contact with their parents, lack emotional support from family, and fail to build healthy bonds with peers or colleagues are more vulnerable to depression and suicidal thoughts, psychiatrists said.
They noted that isolation in hostels and competitive academic environments can deepen feelings of loneliness and hopelessness, making students more prone to emotional breakdowns, especially when combined with academic pressure and financial stress.
According to the most recent national data, around 7,000 people in Pakistan die by suicide each year, with many more making non-fatal attempts, underscoring a broader mental health crisis among youth, especially in high-stress educational environments.
“Mental health crises among students do not occur in isolation,” a senior psychiatrist said. “Financial strain, fear of failure, and absence of support structures are major factors that need urgent attention.”
The concern comes as the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) on Thursday sought a detailed report from Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU), Lahore, following the death of a 22-year-old final-year medical student.
The medical education regulator said the incident exposed gaps in student support systems and hostel safety arrangements in medical institutions.
In a letter to the college, the PMDC expressed sorrow over the student’s death and asked the administration to provide a factual account within seven days, including the date and circumstances of the incident, whether an inquiry committee has been formed and its terms of reference, any preliminary findings, and steps taken or planned to strengthen mental health services and hostel safety.
The council noted that medical and dental students are among the brightest prospects in the country’s future healthcare workforce and said such tragedies highlight the urgent need for responsive student wellbeing systems.
The PMDC directed all medical and dental colleges to hire qualified counsellors and psychologists to provide timely mental health support, establish confidential counselling services, and institute mechanisms to monitor student wellbeing, with special attention to early signs of stress, anxiety, depression and burnout.
“Proactive mental health support and timely counselling can play a critical role in preventing such tragedies and safeguarding students’ lives and futures,” the council said, adding it would continue working with relevant institutions to ensure appropriate measures are implemented to prevent recurrence.
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