3.18

Stress caused by a drop in grades made a Chulalong-korn University student commit suicide by jumping off a building.

Chaninard Rungtivasuwan, 21, a fourth-year science student, was found dead yesterday after she leapt from a building in the vicinity of the university.

Faculty of Science dean Prof Supot Hannongbua said her grade dropped to 3.18 in the last semester of her third year while she used to get 3.7 to 3.9 in her first and second years.

"Her grades have continuously dropped, but that is normal because most students' grades drop when they study at higher levels and do more activities," Supot said.

"Chaninard's parents told me  she used to suffer depression two years ago and last month she suffered it again. She was worried about her grades so much and sometimes felt she was valueless," said Police Lieu-tenant Chaninthorn Nguan-son, who is overseeing the case.

One of her friends said she had looked serious and talked less since four days ago.

Chaninard's father Kraisak Rungtivasuwan, 61, said she was worried and had asked him if she could get first-class honours after her grades dropped.

With her grade averaging 3.69 during her three years of study, she was eligible for first-class honours, Supot insisted.

Mental health check

Supot said the university strictly screened all first-year students' mental health before studies started and if any students were found to have problems, it would ask teachers to closely take care of them.

Deputy Education Minister Boonlue Prasertsopha instructed the Commission on Higher Education to cooperate with universities to set up psychological clinics to give students advice and urged teachers to provide extra content educating students in protecting themselves when they are disappointed in some subjects.

He said Chaninard was the third student to commit suicide during his term in office.

Her body has been placed at Wat Bueng Thong Lang in Soi Lat Phrao 101.