Listening to Youth Voices: Student-Generated Recommendations for Suicide Prevention and Mental Wellbeing in Higher Educational Institutions—A Qualitative Round-Table Dialogue from India

Background: Student suicide has emerged as a major public health concern, particularly in India, where rising suicide rates have intensified calls for higher education institutions to play a central role in prevention. Although whole-university and participatory approaches are increasingly advocated, evidence on students’ priorities for institutional action remains limited. This study explored students’ perspectives on actions that higher education institutions can take to promote mental wellbeing and reduce suicide risk. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using document analysis of written group responses generated during a large-scale participatory round-table dialogue on suicide prevention in Bengaluru, India. A total of 212 undergraduate and postgraduate students from 29 higher education institutions participated. Written responses from 19 discussion groups were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Four overarching themes and 13 subthemes were identified: strengthening institutional mental health support systems, building mental health capacity across the institutional ecosystem, humanising academic and institutional systems, and creating wellbeing-oriented campus environments and cultures. Students emphasised accessible mental health services, faculty and peer capacity building, compassionate institutional policies, academic reforms, and campus environments that foster belonging and holistic wellbeing. Conclusions: The findings support socio-ecological and whole-university approaches to student mental health and suicide prevention. By centring students’ recommendations, the study provides practical insights to inform participatory, contextually relevant institutional policies and campus-based suicide prevention strategies.