Academic Pressure and Mental Health: A Kashmir Tragedy

Hattian Bala: A tragic incident occurred in the village of Nogrān, in the Jehlum Valley district of Azad Kashmir, where a 14-year-old special needs girl, enrolled in the 7th grade, reportedly took her own life after becoming disheartened by her academic performance.

According to details, the girl, named (N), daughter of the late Zahir Awan, had been living at her aunt’s house. She allegedly shot herself with a gun found in the room. It was reported that the girl had very poor vision during the daytime and had been struggling with the pressure of her studies.

Upon receiving the news, DSP Hattian Bala Raja Abdul Khaliq and SHO Naveed-ul-Hassan, along with police personnel, rushed to the scene and initiated legal procedures. The police have delayed the burial of the girl until her mother, who resides with her other children in Karachi, arrives.

The girl’s aunt stated that the child had consistently resisted going to school, and was often sent there forcefully. Over the last few days, she had repeatedly expressed a reluctance to attend school.

On the day of the incident, after returning from school, the girl told her aunt that she was doing homework as she had a test the following day. However, when the aunt went to call her for tea later, she found the girl dead in her room, with a pistol lying nearby. The sound of the gunshot was not heard at the time because a machine was running in the house, which masked the sound of the shot.

This tragic event raises serious concerns about academic pressure and mental health. The police are continuing their investigations and further legal actions will be taken. The girl’s burial will proceed once her mother arrives from Karachi