That students in Pakistan suffer from academic pressure which has a serious impact on their mental health goes without saying. From school to university, students today face unrealistic expectations, intense competition and a toxic culture of comparison. This pressure is taking a heavy toll, resulting in anxiety, burnout and, in some tragic cases, suicide.
In recent years, several cases have surfaced where young students took their own lives due to exam stress or academic failure. These are not isolated incidents but symptoms of a broken system that values grades over growth. Many schools and colleges lack proper counselling services, and mental health is still considered a taboo topic in most households.
It’s high time for our education system and society at large to shift their priorities. Institutions should adopt more balanced assessment methods, include mental health education in curricula and establish trained psychological support systems. Parents, too, must be made aware that their children’s emotional well-being matters more than perfect report cards.
We must stop treating students like machines. A healthier, more compassionate environment is crucial for nurturing confident and mentally strong individuals. If we continue to ignore the psychological toll of academic pressure, we risk losing an entire generation to silence and stress.
Umeeha Fatima
Islamabad
