Why so many suicide cases at public universities? A call for action a must

As cases of student suicide continue to rise at the University of Malawi (UNIMA) and other public institutions across the country, a groundswell of concern is emerging among students, educators, and mental health advocates. 

Many are warning of a full-blown crisis in Malawi’s higher education system one driven by poverty, neglect, stigma, and a lack of institutional support.

While individual cases often make headlines, student leaders and civil society actors are urging Malawians to look beyond isolated tragedies and confront the systemic issues pushing young people toward despair.

Elia Mwalwanda former president of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) at UNIMA and founder of Let Love Lead, a student-led charity.

“We are losing bright minds, these tragedies are not random. They are the result of pressure, neglect, and silence”. said Mwalwanda

The Hidden Cost of Education: When Poverty Turns Fatal

A recent survey by Malawi24 found that financial challenges account for nearly 70% of suicide cases reported in public universities. Many students, despite qualifying for government loans, still struggle to afford food, shelter, and necessities. This is followed by drug and substance abuse (15%) and relationship challenges (15%).

Mwalwanda described the dire realities on campus “Some students go days without food. Others sleep in classrooms or abandoned buildings. Yet we expect them to excel academically that’s not just unfair, it’s inhumane.”

He explained that rising inflation and the soaring cost of living have further eroded the purchasing power of student loans, leaving many to suffer in silence or make desperate choices.

Drugs, Alcohol, and the Search for Relief

Compounding the problem is the rise in substance abuse, as students turn to drugs and alcohol to cope with academic stress, financial anxiety, and emotional trauma.

“It’s become a silent epidemic,” Mwalwanda said. “But instead of addressing the root causes, we discipline and stigmatise them. We forget that substance abuse is often a cry for help.”

He warned that addiction, once it takes hold, traps students in a cycle of self-destruction one that many don’t escape from in time.

The Unspoken Wounds: Emotional Struggles and Social Pressure

Emotional and psychological challenges, though less visible, are just as damaging. Tionge Chirwa, a student at Mzuzu University, said many students battle loneliness, toxic relationships, and social isolation in silence.

“There’s so much pressure to appear strong, especially for men,” Chirwa said. “But inside, people are breaking. We only talk about it after someone has died.”

Chirwa believes that the culture of emotional repression on campus, particularly among male students, is making it harder for those who are struggling to ask for help.

System Failure: A Gaping Hole in Campus Mental Health Services

Experts say universities are ill-equipped to respond to this unfolding crisis. Few institutions have full counsellors or mental health professionals. Where they exist, services are underfunded, understaffedstigmatisedatized.

Christopher Melele, Director of the Mzimba Institute for Development Communication Trust (MI), emphasised the urgency of intervention. “We must treat student mental health as a priority, not an afterthought. Without proper support structures, we are burying future leaders.”

He urged universities to invest in professional counselling services, train peer mentors, and normalise conversations around mental well-being.

A National Emergency: Time for Coordinated Action

Melele, along with other advocates, is calling on the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, university management, student unions, and civil organisations to unite around a national mental health strategy. Key recommendations include:

Expanding on counselling and emotional support services, training counsellors within student communities,

Raising student loan amounts and improving disbursement timelines and

embedding mental health education into student orientation and course curricula.

“This is not just a student problem. It’s a national emergency,” Melele stressed. We can’t wait for another life to be lost before we act.”

As the country grapples with the emotional toll of student suicides, a new conversation is taking shape one rooted in compassion, urgency, and a shared desire to protect the nation’s youth.

“We must stop waiting until it’s too late, quietly. “The signs are always there. We just need to care enough to see them and act.”Mwalwanda noted 

For many, that action cannot come soon enough. Behind every headline is a name, a family, a future lost. But with coordinated reform and national resolve, advocates believe future tragedies can be prevented.