The Government is expanding its measures to address student suicides through multi-pronged approaches, including psychological support, holistic education, and mental health initiatives in the National Education Policy.
According to data from the Accidental Death & Suicide in India (ADSI) reports by the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), causes of student suicides include family problems, love affairs, illness, failure in examination, and other factors. To address this issue, the Government is taking a multi-pronged approach, providing psychological support to students, teachers, and families for mental and emotional well-being.
The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 emphasizes holistic and multidisciplinary education that promotes cognitive development, character building, creativity, and key 21st-century skills. It aims to develop well-rounded individuals with deep knowledge in their chosen fields alongside capabilities across a range of disciplines. NEP 2020 also underscores the importance of promoting student wellness through physical fitness, good health, psychosocial well-being, and sound ethical grounding to support high-quality learning and reduce mental stress.
An initiative of Ministry of Education, MANODARPAN, covers a wide range of activities to provide psychological support. This includes a national toll-free helpline, live interactive sessions 'Sahyog', webinars 'Paricharcha', telecasts on PM e-Vidya channels, and more. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued guidelines promoting physical fitness, sports activities, safeguards against academic pressure, and positive thinking within the student community.
The Ministry of Education has circulated a framework guideline on emotional and mental well-being of students in Higher Education Institutes (HEIs), emphasizing counselling services, early distress identification, suicide prevention SOPs, student support networks, strengthened grievance redressal mechanisms, and periodic institutional review to ensure sustained effectiveness. The guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centres also mandate student-support and protection measures such as counselling facilities, transparent fee structures, and safeguards against practices that intensify academic pressure.
Under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme, an integrated approach has been conceptualized to address student mental health concerns for early intervention. Two fortnightly sessions are being held with faculty of higher education institutions to empower them to address student mental health issues. The Government is also organizing national wellbeing conclaves and regional workshops on mental health.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
