Mysuru: An 11-year-old student, Kushal D Gowda, was found dead in an apparent suicide at his residence in Jalpuri Police Quarters on Tuesday. The police have confirmed that there is no suspicion of foul play in the case. Kushal, a student at Police Public School in Jalpuri, was discovered deceased by his mother, Lakshmi, who is a yoga teacher at the same school.
Kushal’s father, Desi Gowda, a group D employee at the Karnataka Police Academy, resides with his family in A block of Jalpuri Police Quarters. According to sources, the family had been considering enrolling Kushal, their second son, in a residential school. It is believed that this potential change was a source of distress for Kushal, possibly contributing to his tragic decision.
The Nazarbad police have registered the incident as an unnatural death. This incident marks the second reported suicide of a school student in Mysuru in recent times. Earlier, a Class 7 student in Metagalli police limits also took his own life.
The community is mourning this tragic event and reflecting on the pressures faced by young students. Support services and preventive measures are increasingly being discussed to address such incidents and provide necessary support to children in distress.
If you are feeling suicidal or have suicidal thoughts, please know that you are not alone and there is help available. You can call any of the following helpline numbers in India to talk to someone who will listen to you and support you.
1. National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 1800-121-3667. This is a toll-free number that provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones
2. Aasra: 9820466726. This is a 24/7 helpline that offers non-judgmental and non-critical listening to anyone who needs emotional support
3. iCall: 022-25521111. This is a helpline run by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences that offers professional counselling, information and referrals to anyone in need of mental health care. It operates from Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 10 pm
Please do not hesitate to reach out to any of these helplines if you are feeling suicidal. You are valuable and your life matters.