Shocking death of a class 10 student in Ahmedabad, allegedly stabbed by his junior during the hands of a school last week, has raised questions about school violence and mental health of children in India.

The incident, which exposes mob violence at the seventh day Adventist School, exposes complex psychologists and social triggers that could affect school children with anger into violent behavior.

India today talked to four experts who explain why children are becoming more aggressive, how to come in contact with online violence and shape offline their brain, schools remain ill to deal with these crises, and what should be done to identify the trigger to parents and teachers, it is too late.

Tiger behind rising aggression

Psychiatrist Dr. Sneha Sharma says that severe youth violence has increased in the last decade, and many factors have to be blamed.

“In contact with violence in online places and video games, loss of community support, glory of popularity on social media, and increase in drug abuse are all driving forces,” she explains.

Beyond social influences, personal history also matters.

Children who have experienced trauma, neglect, poverty or violence at home are more unsafe for aggression.

“In exposure to violence, whether he is direct as a victim or indirect as a witness, a child can influence the development of a child deeply. Some children can develop anxiety, depression or low self-esteem, while others can adopt aggression as a way to compete with rejection and disappointment,” Dr. Sharma says.

Psychologist Dr. Sumalatha Vasudev, Glaynegles BGS Hospital, Cangri, Bengaluru, agree that the trend is worrisome. “Shifts are multidimensive, academic pressure, interrupted family structures, and continuous risk to unfiltered online materials are all major contributors. Children are lacking healthy outlets for their feelings today, and social media has handled their lives. The quality time we spend with children is much less than earlier generations.”

For many teenagers, she explains, aggression is often “unresolved emotional crisis, whether it is trauma, anxiety disorders, or feeling invalid and unheard. The aggression becomes a sexual system.”

How does violence become ‘normal’

Children learn by copying, and repeatedly contact for violence, whether at home, or online, can make aggressive behavior normal.

Dr. Vasudev said, “As long as you inadvertently humming it, listening to a song until they come into contact for violent media or real -life struggles, they turn into children’s behavior by listening to a song. Over time, they begin to believe that aggression is the way to make themselves vocal,” Dr. Vasudev says.

Dr. Sonali Chaturvedi, Aterte Hospitals’ Advisor psychologists, notes how cartoons and movies have changed in the last few years.

“Earlier, animated films were informative and value-operated. Today, even for a lot of material-children-including aggression, bullying, or cyberbuling. When aggression is shown as humor or power, children begin to assume that it is normal,” they say.

Changes in family structures have removed significant buffers. Joint families once offered supervision and emotional regulation. Now, with working parents and low support systems, many children are left to navigate stress and competition on their own.

Without combating skills, anxiety and depression are formed, and aggression becomes their outlet.

Dr. Mithun Prasad, Advisor to Sims Hospital, Chennai, warns that aggression is often “a symptom rather than the main problem.”

“Unresolved sorrows, bullying, operation of disorders, impulse control problems, or untreated conditions like ADHD and depression can do all the surfaces as aggression. If children are constantly exposed to violence, whether online or at home, it seems like a normal way to express anger or control,” they say.

Why schools are struggling

All four experts say that Indian schools are still poor to handle the crisis.

“Some Indian cities, such as Delhi, have introduced counseling initiatives and colleague support groups. But they are scattered and are still in early stages. Most schools have a shortage of trained consultants, and the stigma around mental health prevents timely intervention,” Dr. Sharma says.

Dr. Chaturvedi highlighted the immediate requirement of systemic changes: “The student-to-counselor ratio is very high. Even though policies now mandate counseling services, in practice, very few schools are full-time professionals. Schools require proper mental health courses where children are taught emotional regulation from the beginning.”

Very often, counseling in schools is seen as a disciplinary remedy rather than preventive care.

Experts say that a strong structure will include full -time consultants, regular training for teachers, and safe channels for children.

Red flag parents should not ignore

One of the most dangerous misconceptions, experts warn, rejecting aggression as “just a phase”.

Dr. Vasudev says, “Sometimes the mood is normal. But if a child gets into a quarrel again and again, destroys the goods, threatens others, or shows the cruelty to the animals, these are red flags. Parents should not wait, professional help should be demanded,” Dr. Vasudev says.

Dr. Sharma lists the signs of adjacent warnings: “Severe physical aggression, destruction of property, severe anger on minor issues, clear threats of violence, and capture of weapons. They require immediate intervention.”

Dr. Prasad said that attraction with violence, heavy changes in hunger or sleep, and frequent oral outbreaks are also signs that should not be ignored.

When to take help

The consensus among experts is clear: seek help quickly.

“Parents or teachers should consult a psychologist if aggression is frequent and starts affecting academics, daily functioning, or relationships. The first step is to sit peacefully with the child and have a non-judicial conversation. If he does not help, meet a professional for a proper assessment,” Dr. Vasudev says.

Dr. Prasad said that medical, family counseling and sometimes medical intervention could prevent increasing.

And Dr. For Chaturvedi, time is important: “The moment a child shows the initial aggressive behavior – throwing things, shouting, earning tantrums – parents should work. The longer it is ignored, the more it becomes part of the child’s personality.”

As a society, we should move beyond reactive measures and adopt an active, sympathetic approach – which should include parents, teachers, mental health professionals and policy makers working together, where children can express themselves.