The Silent Scream: Understanding Student Suicides in Pakistani Universities and the Preventive Role of Academic Libraries

Abstract

The increased number of university suicides among students in Pakistan is an indication of hidden mental and emotional turmoil in young people, usually shrouded in cultural stigma and institutional silence. This paper will focus on psychological, academic, financial and institutional aspects related to suicidal ideation in the context of students in the university of Sindh Province and beyond. The qualitative and descriptive research design is employed to examine the cultural premise of suicide, the futility of available counselling systems as well as the lack of effective prevention measures among Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). The alarming need to reform the system systematically is evidenced by recent events such as the case of a fourth-year MBBS student in Larkana who was allegedly found dead in his hostel room in the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) in October 2025. Another aspect of the article is the possible stabilising influence of libraries and reading culture to help students in the emotional state. The results indicate that academic stress, parental expectations, financial stress and low mental health literacy are among the major predictors of suicidal tendencies. The paper ends with a strategic implication which focuses on policy changes, better academic counselling and library based wellness programmes to develop emotional resilience and avoid suicides among students in Pakistani hostels and campuses.