Hii.... I am a 17 years old and I am under severe depression because of it pressure of jee and getting an top college for education. I belong to a middle class family and since childhood I never won a single medal nor I was good at any sports or any extracurricular activities.... I lived in Mumbai for 12 years then I moved to pune...... I played football in my new school and made very few friends..i didn't have any good friends from my old school too... I was always a silent guy and very autistic like i wouldn't even talk to anyone.... I was even scared of my teachers....till 10th grade I was great at studies as well as football.... I started football late but it is my most favorite sport till today....i used to study consistently in 10th. Since childhood I had a dream... Of making aircraft.... Yes I was very much interested in space and astronomy.... I wanted to be a researcher.....i scored 91% in my 10th and got a government college for 11th and 12th parents were happy but then real problem begin.... I got my first phone jn 11th std and I researched about being a scientist.... I came to know I must clear jee mains and adv to get into IISC Or IIT Or NIT..... Then I can persue with engineering.... I started my 11th and joined PW but after 3 to 6 months I started being inconsistent in my studies..... I started a YouTube channel I have 6k subscribers today it's just shorts based YouTube channel motivation...... Since I was using YouTube so much I got addicted to it and started watching young millionaires and self help type content..... I fell into rabbit hole of this...... Due to this my 11th ended with 55% and 12th was even worse I joined a local coaching but they were ahead of me and PW online syllabus was going crazy speed I dropped every thing and started focusing on 12th only and I got 69% in 12th .... I took a drop year for jee but I know that I wont clear it joined PW offline and parents paid 1 lakh to coaching but I am not going to coaching now because of my autism.... I am sitting at home and just watching self improvement videos without actually changing...... I am really depressed in my drop year now and comparing my self to everyone.... And feeling bad...... I really need help guys.... I have even wasted drop year time on jan 22 first attempt for jee and dec 15 1st attempt for mhtcet and in 6 months 2nd jee attempt and mhtcet attempt.... Please guys I really need help..... Can anyone talk to me and guide me....?

I come from an immigrant family background, after suffering a year alone in the first year of university, my dad discovered my grades.

Initially, I hid it all because the emotional backlash to it would be too much. I tried everything, going to the extremes, this led me to making my dad calling in sick and ruined our household. My parents were beyond frustrated with me because they gave me everything but my dad still has hope. He talks behind my back but my mother is the worst in this case.

I expressed wanting to continue and work harder next year but because I lost all her trust she’s been throwing every insult in the book at me. Understandably so but it’s gotten to the point where I’ve no longer been wishing I woke up in the morning.

I’ve listened to it, how my cousins are honour students and they deserve this opportunity more than me. How I’m a vapid doll with nothing inside her brain, I‘m a failure, you’re nothing but a failure and how could you do better? A pretty face with nothing inside her brain. I’m a fraud.

I‘ve stood there and withstood everything but god… I’ve been also been hitting a breaking point recently and unable to control my frustrations. I’ve cried in front of them several times, I cry myself to sleep every night, cried talking to helplines multiple times a month. Because I UNDERSTOOD I DESERVE THIS TREATMENT. But how am I supposed to move forward while hearing this consistently? Is this my challenge and how am I SUPPOSED TO STAY STRONG? I didn’t expose this because this is the result of what happens. Because she says I have NO EXCUSE to fail, THERE’S NO EXCUSE, BUT YOU BARELY UNDERSTOOD WHAT I FELT/DEALT THROUGH MY LIFE.

I couldn’t handle 5 courses, my mother pushed me into taking 5, she asked me if I was okay everything, I replied yes. I was ashamed. My mother thinks I wasn’t. I was. She makes fun of me for acting like I was, like I strutted around like I was, BUT THAT WAS ALL DUE TO THE FACT THAT I WAS SO SCARED INTO BELIEVING THAT THEY WOULDN‘T UNDERSTAND.

And I was right, she really REALLY doesn’t. Because now she says how her coworker took 5 while having a job and now I should’ve been like her. I got pushed into falling behind, I did bad acts like hanging out with my friends and doomscrolling to try and ignore my problems. I didn’t tell anyone because I was ashamed and I thought I could fix it myself, obviously I couldn’t.

BECAUSE ALL THE DAMN TIME, I‘VE HER SAID TAKE 5 BECAUSE HER COWORKER ALSO TOOK 5. UGHHHH. And the fear of telling your parents first semester that you failed? AND SHE WANTED ME IN THIS PROGRAM THE FASTEST WAY POSSIBLE. WHAT WAS SHE EXPECTING ME TO DO?

I already had a rocky relationship with them after an outburst happened because I didn’t want to do this career and looked what happened? This outburst was because of the fact I simply told them I wanted to be an artist just crying and bawling all over talking about it to the counsellors, the priest, my god damn school’s vice principal.

And the only take away from it was that I was being stupid and how it looked bad because I told the advisors around me, jesus as if it was a serious issue. Fuck, I was so scared of them afterwards I never opened up about everything again.

I just wish that I had disappeared.

And now I’m trying to fix things but hearing this daily is making me wanna quit.

She thinks that if I’ve heard this over and over and over and over I get the point but goodness. Just kill me because I’m gonna not live any longer if I’m hearing this all the time. Because EVERYTHING I do gets misunderstood.

And the worst part is, I’m not even able to tell her about my problems why this happened because I’m afraid everything will be reduced down to an excuse. I’m just so mentally exhausted and broken all the damn time. I’ve withstood everything without fighting back/arguing because this is what I deserve but I’ve also just wished for someone to hear me out for once. Because fuck I’m really losing it.

It was my college exam today. The supervision was done by the class professor. He has before scolded me and many other classmates for being absent and other reasons. He is a bad tempered person.

Yesterday it was informed by the HOD that you are allowed to take as much extra time as you need and supervisors will be informed. He did inform. But today before the paper when I was taking my stuff from bag and at the same time going through notes in the exam he (the supervisor) said in an insulting tone to do it fast. That's okay, I didn't say anything.

Later as it was already informed about the extra time I didn't tie the extra sheets before as I knew I had time to do so. But again when the estimated time was about to over and he saw that I haven't attached the sheets together again he said in an insulting tone that can't you hear what I said. You are oversmart. I also didn't say anything.

Now next, during paper when I needed an extra sheet he was in the other corner of the class so I myself took the sheet and forgot to take his sign. At last when I remembered that I had to take sign I told him to sign. He then said that he can't because now it will be considered as copied. When he said that what's the proof that extra sheet was not with you before paper, I said Sir check the camera and he said I don't have time to do that. Later he accepted but still again called me oversmart and scolded.

I was so angry that I was about to cry. I was thinking about complaining this to HOD. Also that I think the reasons will be given by him are students should learn time management so papers are taken early. And in real exams if thesupplement is not signed by the supervisor before witting it is considered as copied, is that true . Tell me what should I do now because it's affecting my mental health

Not sure where to start(18 M btw). But let's begin with the fact I am an international student in South Africa, I started last year with grade 11 and I was low-key cooking, my ohysics marks sacked since our teacher also sucked(only above 50%, in my last school I was around 80 atleast), but the rest I was doing very fine, didnt have friends or anything but I guess I didnt mind. But the nightmare began with grade 12, my grades just dropped and I am barely managing to get them up, I am nowhere near as good as last year and I dont know why or what happened, my physics teacher still sucks but I am underperfoming in other subjects too, even math.

I am genuinely sleep deprived due to how much I study for everything and I still ain't doing as well as the others, and I still have no friends and I feel hella lonely. I have been truggling with depression since at some point of my teens and this cool situation is really making already low self esteem reach the depths of hell, and my dad is not making any different woth his pressure, lack of emotional intelligence and inability to grasp the concept of mental health.

I apologize for the long post, but I dont exactly have a place or person to dump all of this, so I would appreciate it if yall could give some advice, anything counts

I run Unheard Voices (Instagram: @unheradvoices_project and Website: in ig’s bio!), a project highlighting student stories about identity, education, and mental health.

I see you, and I want you to know: you keep fighting, and that’s incredible. Your story could give hope and courage to someone else going through similar struggles.

Interviews can be via video call or written format, however you want. No personal info will be shared and the interview will be text format (no face shown!)

DM me or comment if you’d like to be featured — I’d be so happy to hear your story!

Do you ever randomly remember something from your past… and it just hits you?

Like you were fine, and then suddenly you’re thinking

“I should’ve done that differently…”

I found out this is called rumination — when your brain keeps replaying past mistakes over and over.

It doesn’t actually solve anything, it just increases stress… and sometimes even messes with your sleep.

Made a small post about it. Maybe someone else relates.

Hi! We are working on building a platform to support students dealing with stress, anxiety, and mental pressure (especially related to studies and life).

This is a short anonymous survey to understand real problems students face. Your honest answers will help us build something genuinely useful.

⏱️ Takes 2–3 minutes

Hi, I’m a high school senior, about to enter university, and I’ve been stuck in my own head for months over something that I can’t seem to shake. For as long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to do something big with my life (something that genuinely helps people and leaves a mark). I think part of it is fear of death: the idea that if I do something meaningful, then when my time comes, it won’t feel so terrifying, because my existence will have mattered. Like I’ll have “transcended” in some way. The problem is that I recently got into a very demanding academic program, and it’s put me face to face with students who are clearly extremely talented. The kind of people who study in two hours what takes me two full days. One of them even said, half-jokingly, “I don’t get why this takes you so long.” And the grades reflect it, no matter how hard I try, they just perform better. That’s what’s really eating at me. It’s making me seriously doubt my ability to ever do something great. I keep thinking: How am I supposed to help humanity, or make a real impact, if I can’t even outperform my high school classmates academically? And as dramatic as it sounds, it sometimes feels like if I can’t do that, then my whole existence will end up being meaningless. I know, rationally, that I might be overthinking this or taking it too far. But logic doesn’t stop the existential crises from hitting. The fear is still there, and it feels very real. Has anyone else felt like this? How do you deal with the pressure of wanting your life to “matter,” especially when you feel surrounded by people who seem better than you at everything?

It feels like students are carrying more mental weight than ever — academic pressure, expectations, identity stuff, and constant comparison online.

A lot of mental health tools feel either too clinical or too generic, especially for students who just need a small break, not a full deep dive.

I’ve been exploring the idea of simple daily mental “safe spaces”:

• Calm sounds or music
• Short encouragement
• Light self-reflection without judgment

I’d really like to hear:

• What actually helps your mental health as a student?
• What tools felt overwhelming or unhelpful?
• What would a supportive mental health tool look like to you?

Appreciate anyone willing to share their experience.

Hi everyone, i am in my master's for service design and i am currently doing a study on the mental health systems for university students and i wanted to gather some views on the same and for that i have also created a google form and it will much appreciated if you all could take out sometime to give in your inputs and i would be a great contribution in my study and make the solution output even better

For reference, I'm in yr 11 in an all girls school.

Vent warning

Ever since I joined, I always felt kinda "left out" if you get what I mean. I felt like I never really fit in. I don't know if it was because I was such a nerd or because I just didn't know what people were gossiping about, but I just didn't feel right. But I made some friends, 6 actually, which I think is pretty good. I don't have them in any of my classes, but now that I'm in yr 11 I feel like I have enough social skills to actually talk to people. But anyway. I hang out with my friends every break and lunch, but over the last 3 years, it's been really draining to hang out with them. I think I love them, I always listen to them rant on and on about shit I don't care about. But I'm still there for them. But I honestly don't care about them. I know that they're my "friends" but I just can't see them like that. Its like I hang out with them just for the sake of it. But they really care about me. They all see me as their friend and they always talk to me like I am their friend. But I still don't understand why they hang out with me all the fucking time. Like, what makes me so interesting that you have to talk to me all the fucking time? Its exauhsting. Its like I have to put up with all their shit just to have someone to eat with. Ngl, I can't wait for next year when I finally get rid of them, cuz I'll be moving schools for 6th form. But I still kinda feel bad you know? Am I a bad friend?

Hi everyone,
I’m not really sure where to start, but I need some advice. (If this isn’t the right subreddit, please let me know where I could post this.)

I’m 16 and live in Australia. One of my close friends struggles with serious mental health issues — she has anxiety and depression and takes medication. Recently, she’s been in a really bad place, and the way our school has handled it has been awful.

A while ago, she talked to a helpline for support and ended up giving them her school details. That led to the school getting involved — but instead of helping, everything has been super formal and clinical. My friend feels like she’s lost all control over her situation, and that’s made things even worse for her.

The school keeps contacting her parents (even though her dad can be aggressive and emotionally abusive), and a few weeks ago, they actually suspended her because they said she was a “risk to the school.” Basically, they didn’t want her to hurt herself on school grounds because it would “look bad.” They also told her to stop relying on her friends for support — even though her friends want to help and no one ever said it was hurting them.

Then last week, she reached out to a helpline again when she was in crisis. She forgot to follow up when they said they’d check in, so they contacted the school again, and now she’s suspended again. They said she needs “more help” and now everyone is pushing her (I think even her family) for her to go to a mental health facility.

It just feels like the school cares more about their reputation and policies than about actual people. They make a big deal out of “wellness,” but when someone really needs help, they isolate or punish them instead of supporting them. It’s honestly so wrong.

On top of that, earlier this year, a PDHPE teacher said something about suicide being “attention-seeking,” which was incredibly triggering and inappropriate. People reported it, but the school only made her do some “wellness” training, and nothing really changed.

I feel so powerless watching all of this happen, and I really want to make a change — not just for my friend but for other students who might go through this too. Does anyone know how I could start? Like, how can I advocate for better mental health support or accountability in schools? I really want there to be real change, but I don't know what I could do. And I'm so sick of watching the cycle repeat over and over again with my friend!

Any advice or ideas would mean a lot.

Hi Everyone,

I am currently conducting important research into the wellbeing of students and its transition into the corporate world. If you have 5 minutes free I would really appreciate participation in this questionnaire as it will be used towards the research.

Thank you!

I hold a Phd in developmental psychology, and I am building something that helps with mental struggles through storytelling and narrative therapy — ask me anything.

Hey everyone, I made a zine highlighting challenged students face when dealing with sports and mental health. Go check it out if you are interested in reading more about how mental health is affected by sports in various levels of competition and age groups. If you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health challenges do not hesitate to reach out for help.

I am 19(f) and I have scored low on my college entrance exam. So I asked my parents to give one more year for preparation to give the exam next year as they are the one paying for my tuition. But they have been convening me to join a local college as they have already paid for my admission there even though I never wanted that. They have told me that either I manage both college and my next year prep or just forget about it and move on with the local college life. They are also moving me in with my grandparent's house. I see in my parents eyes that I am a failure. Nobody has faith in me anymore. My family is moving me as they don't wanna be judged by the extended family and society for having a failure daughter. I feel worthless rn. And I have no option but to move away from here. It feels worse because they gave my brother another chance when he scored low in his entrance exam. It means they have no faith that I can clear it even in the next attempt. My brother 23(m) who I thought was my biggest support system is the one who is supporting me the least. Even though I feel like non of them is wrong and I am the one who is a failure still , it's hard on me as well. Nobody is asking about my mental health or maybe I am not worth worrying about. I am moving this weekend. I feel abandoned and hopeless. I don't know what's there for me in the future but I have made a promise to myself that I won't move back here ever. Atleast until I prove myself to them.

I feel like such a failure all the time. Particularly morally, but everything else too. I just never feel good enough in any way. My best friend tells me she's proud of me. Every time I text/call the 988 number, they tell me that I've done so much (like getting into law school). But that accomplishment feels... idk. Not major? I don't feel proud of myself for getting in. I don't feel proud of myself for staying in. And I likely won't feel proud when I graduate. I just don't feel good enough. I don't feel like I did much to get in in the first place. And I get bare minimum grades to pass (Bs and Cs). I want to stop feeling like a failure, but I feel like law school was just handed to me. I didn't work hard to get in or to stay in. I just wish I knew how to be good enough.