STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH AS A PILLAR OF SUSTAINABLE HIGHER EDUCATION: A SECONDARY DATA ANALYSIS OF INDIAN UNIVERSITIES
Keywords:
Student Mental Health, Sustainable Higher Education, Student Well-being, SDG 3, University Sustainability, Educational Well-being.,,Abstract
While environmental and economic factors usually dominate the discussion on sustainable
higher education, the psychological resilience of the student population is equally critical to
institutional longevity. This study explores how student mental health serves as a foundational
pillar for sustainable universities in India. By analyzing secondary data from the All India
Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2022-23, National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)
statistics, and recent epidemiological research, the paper highlights a deepening crisis within
the Indian academic ecosystem. Findings reveal that while university enrollment has reached
4.46 crore, student suicides are rising at an annual rate of 4%—double that of the general
population. The study identifies a significant 83% treatment gap and emphasizes that academic
engagement acts as a crucial mediator between institutional support and well-being. The paper
concludes that for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to meet the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 4, they must move beyond ad-hoc counseling and integrate
"Social and Emotional Capital" into their core governance and sustainability strategies.
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