PU's mental health crisis: One counsellor for 16,000 students
With over 13,000 student suicides reported in 2022 alone, and more than 2,200 linked directly to exam failures, the apex court has made it clear that educational institutions must urgently step up to support the mental well-being of their students.
At Panjab University (PU), the reality is stark. Despite being home to over 16,000 students, the university has just one part-time mental health counsellor. Of the two sanctioned posts, one remained vacant for half a year and was only filled this Jan.
The absence of a robust support system—dedicated wellness cells, professional mental health staff, and visible helpline information—paints a troubling picture.
A few posters tucked away in hostel corridors are the only quiet reminders of a crisis that demands louder attention.
This stands in contrast to repeated advisories from the University Grants Commission (UGC), which call for Student Wellness Centres, trained clinical psychologists, and peer-led support systems to make mental health care accessible and stigma-free.
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Inside a modest room on the ground floor of PU's Student Centre, clinical psychologist Pulkita has been quietly holding space for students in distress. Since January, she has conducted 131 sessions, , each lasting between 45 minutes to an hour, with some even stretching to 90 minutes. "Most students come in overwhelmed, anxious, or feeling stuck," she shares. "Many don't even realize they're experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety.
The pressure starts long before they enter university."
Even during exams, the flow of students didn't slow. "I expected fewer sessions, but the opposite happened. Many were physically exhausted, unable to sleep or eat, teetering on the edge," she recalls.
The tragic suicide of PU student Aditya Thakur on April 28 was a turning point. "After his death, students came in waves. Some knew him, others didn't. But his passing unearthed buried grief.
It became a mirror for their own pain."
To reach more students, Pulkita has begun informal hostel visits and created a WhatsApp group with 374 students to share mental health resources. From August, she plans to systematically cover each hostel. Meanwhile, students themselves have taken initiative, launching an Instagram page—PU Mental Health Club—to foster peer support and openness.
Yet, the university has not advertised for the second counsellor post.
"We had planned to do so in March, but administrative delays held us back," said Professor Amit Chauhan, Dean, Student Welfare. "We're now in the process of issuing the advertisement."
A senior PU official, speaking anonymously, acknowledged the challenge of attracting qualified professionals. "The honorarium is just ₹20,000 a month for part-time counsellors. That's far below what they earn in private practice or even schools.
We need to rethink the structure if we want lasting, meaningful mental health support."
Gaping holes in colleges too
Government and private colleges in the city have no exclusive counsellors. Institutions said they rely on psychology department teachers when students are in distress.
But students say that's not enough. "How do you talk about your personal trauma to someone who teaches you or grades you?" said Harleen Kaur, a third-year student at a government college.
"It's not just awkward, it's unsafe."
What the UT dept says
Director, higher education, Rubinderjit Singh Brar, said the department is willing to explore setting up counselling centres in colleges. "There are hospitals with expert psychologists and psychiatrists. If needed, we can refer students to them," he said. "As for dedicated centres, it will need creation of posts and permissions, but we can work on the modalities."
Numbers say it all
2 part-time mental health counsellor posts sanctioned at PU
1 currently filled (since Jan 2025)
131 counselling sessions held from Jan–May 2025
45–90 minutes: Average duration of a session
374 students in PU's informal WhatsApp support group
0 full-time professional mental health staff on PU campus
0 display boards with Tele MANAS helpline number on campus
What UGC guidelines say
Every college and university must set up a Student Services Centre for stress and mental health support
Professionally trained counsellors must be appointed under the centre's in-charge
Counselling should be offered in person, online, by phone, or in group settings
A reasonable counsellor-to-student ratio must be maintained to make the system effective
Support details must be clearly displayed on institute websites and admission brochures
Institutes should link up with nearby hospitals and psychiatrists if needed
Records of vulnerable students should be kept for timely intervention
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