HYDERABAD: A 26-year-old postgraduate medical student at Osmania General Hospital allegedly died by suicide after injecting himself with an overdose of sedatives in his hostel room at Afzalgunj on Thursday.
The deceased, Katravath Suresh, was a native of Jedcherla in Mahbubnagar district. He was a first-year postgraduate student in General Surgery and had joined the course around three months ago.
On Thursday morning, when he did not open the door, his friends knocked repeatedly but got no response. Suspecting something was wrong, they broke open the door and found him lying unconscious.
He was rushed to Osmania General Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
A student from Osmania Medical College told TNIE that Suresh had reportedly wanted to pursue General Medicine but could not secure the required rank and was allotted General Surgery instead. Police said Suresh was under stress and had been reportedly undergoing treatment for depression.
Police suspect that dissatisfaction with his course may have led him to take the extreme step. No suicide note was found in his room.
Suresh’s mother alleged that he died due to pressure from seniors. She, along with their relatives and students, staged a protest in front of the college.
Afzalgunj police registered a case of suspicious death under Section 194 of the BNSS and launched an investigation.
Mental health support sought
Meanwhile, the members of the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) have urged the Health department to prioritise psychological support systems for doctors, citing long working hours, high stress levels and lack of emotional support in government hospitals.
In a statement, HRDA highlighted the immense pressure faced by postgraduate medical trainees due to demanding schedules and insufficient emotional support systems. The association called on the Health department to take immediate steps to address the issue by strengthening mental health support for doctors.
Key demands include establishing accessible psychological counselling services, promoting mental health awareness, and creating a supportive environment where doctors can openly discuss their struggles without fear of stigma.
“Doctors, especially young trainees, often work under intense pressure. Without proper support systems, this can take a serious toll on their mental well-being,” the association stated.
They also emphasised the need to build a culture within the medical community that encourages seeking help and recognises mental health as equally important as physical health.
The incident has reignited discussions on the need for systemic reforms to safeguard the well-being of healthcare professionals, with many in the fraternity calling for immediate and sustained intervention.