With youth suicide rates rising globally, including in India, this talk explores the culturally rooted risk factor of "fear of social death" and its impact on young people’s sense of not belonging. Drawing on perspectives from young people with lived experiences and insights from healthcare providers, family members, and community elders, this talk—rooted in social and cultural psychology—examines how violations of social norms, such as inter-caste or inter-ethnic marriages, can drive suicidal distress. Through this talk, Dr Varnica hopes to spark a broader conversation about the diverse ways social death—experiences of being shunned, marginalized, or excluded—manifests across contexts, whether online, within family, culture, or in academic settings.

Dr Varnica Arora’s research broadly lies at the intersection of culture, inequality and suicide. Trained in critical and social psychology, Arora's dissertation takes an intersectional and cultural approach to understanding youth experiences following suicidal behaviors in rural India, with a focus on the culturally specific concept of "fear of social death."

Prior to joining Stonehill, Varnica taught courses in Social Psychology and Psychology and Social Media at City College of New York and Macalester College. She also previously served as a fellow at the Teaching and Learning Center at City University of New York's Graduate Center, leading the Pedagogy-in-Practice program, which supports graduate students transitioning into their roles as instructors.

Varnica’s work has been recognized by prestigious grants from the American Association of University Women, J.N. Tata Endowment Grant, International Inequalities Institute at the London School of Economics. Before beginning her doctoral research, Varnica worked as a community organizer with women’s collectives in central India, an experience that informs her commitment to community-engaged research and culturally responsive suicide prevention practices.