Latest news with #Manodarpan
Mint
29-07-2025
- Health
- Mint
Deepika Padukone shares ‘landmark' Supreme Court guidelines to protect students' mental health amid rising suicide cases
Deepika Padukone has shared guidelines to safeguard students' mental health. In one of her Instagram Stories, the Bollywood actress shared a post from The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF). She has called it a 'landmark step for Student Mental Health!'. The original post is an abridged version of the landmark Supreme Court guidelines on student well-being. On July 26, the Supreme Court called mental health a part of the basic right to life and dignity under Article 21. Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta shared 15 guidelines and criticised coaching centres for ignoring students' mental well-being. According to the apex court, the guidelines will stay active until proper laws are made. All schools and colleges have been asked to draft a common mental health policy. Their policy must be based on the Ummeed draft, Manodarpan scheme and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. This policy should be reviewed every year and shared on websites and notice boards. These steps came as the court had heard an appeal related to the death of a 17-year-old NEET student in Vishakhapatnam in 2024. The girl's father demanded a CBI probe into her death. While the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed the demand, the top court has now approved it. The court asked institutions with 100 or more students to hire at least one trained counsellor, psychologist or social worker. Smaller institutions must connect with external mental health experts. Schools and colleges must train all staff twice a year in basic mental health care with help from professionals. They must learn how to treat students from weaker or marginalised groups with care and without bias. Institutions must set up safe and private ways for students to report bullying, harassment, ragging or abuse of any kind. Parents must also be made aware of mental health through regular sessions. Schools must keep anonymous records and submit yearly reports on their mental health work. They must focus more on sports, arts and personality-building activities. Exams should be planned better so that students don't feel too much pressure. The aim is to help students grow in every way, not just through marks. "Failure to take timely or adequate action in such cases, especially where such neglect contributes to a student's self-harm or suicide, shall be treated as institutional culpability, making the administration liable to regulatory and legal consequences," the bench said. Deepika Padukone started TLLLF in 2015 after facing anxiety and depression herself. The foundation works to spread awareness about mental health in India. It tries to remove shame linked to mental illness and offers helpful resources. The foundation runs programs that talk about issues like stress, anxiety and depression. TLLLF also works with other groups to reach more people and spread mental health awareness widely.
Scroll.in
27-07-2025
- Health
- Scroll.in
SC issues 15 guidelines to address student suicides, mental health in educational institutions
The Supreme Court on Friday issued 15 interim guidelines to address the rise in student suicides and mental health challenges in educational institutions across India, PTI reported. The guidelines include the appointment of trained counsellors and psychologists, the adoption of a uniform mental health policy and annual reviews of wellness interventions at such institutes. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta observed that there was a 'legislative and regulatory vacuum' regarding a unified, enforceable framework for suicide prevention in schools, colleges, coaching centres and similar environments. The court said the guidelines would remain in force and binding until suitable legislation or regulatory frameworks were introduced by the competent authority. The order came in response to an appeal against an Andhra Pradesh High Court decision that had rejected a request to transfer to the Central Bureau of Investigation a probe into the suspicious death of a 17-year-old National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test aspirant in Visakhapatnam. The Supreme Court directed the central agency to take over the investigation, according to The New Indian Express. Mental health safeguards The Supreme Court directed all educational institutions to adopt and implement a uniform mental health policy, drawing from the UMMEED draft guidelines, the Manodarpan initiative and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. It must be reviewed annually and made publicly available on institutional websites and notice boards. The draft UMMEED, or Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, Develop guidelines were released in 2023 by the Union Ministry of Education to help prevent student suicides in schools. The Manodarpan initiative was launched to provide psychosocial support during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Suicide Prevention Strategy outlines roles for stakeholders in reducing suicide rates. Among other suggestions, the court said that institutions with more than 100 students must appoint qualified counsellors, psychologists or social workers trained in child and adolescent mental health. Smaller institutions may establish formal referral arrangements with external professionals. The court directed educational and coaching institutions to avoid practices that could harm students' mental well-being, such as public shaming, assigning academic targets that exceed students' capacity and segregating students into batches based on their academic performance. Residential institutions have been advised to install tamper-proof ceiling fans or other safety devices and restrict access to rooftops, balconies and similar high-risk areas to deter impulsive acts of self-harm. The court said that coaching hubs in cities such as Jaipur, Kota, Sikar, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi, and Mumbai must implement enhanced mental health protections. All teaching and non-teaching staff must undergo mandatory training twice a year, conducted by certified mental health professionals. These guidelines apply to all public and private schools, colleges, universities and coaching centres.
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Supreme Court issues guidelines to address student suicides and mental health in educational institutions
New Delhi: Outlining the rise in suicides and mental health issues among students in educational institutions, the Supreme Court on Friday issued pan-India guidelines to combat the problem. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said there remained a "legislative and regulatory vacuum" in the country with respect to a unified, enforceable framework for suicide prevention of students in educational institutions, coaching centres, and student-centric environments. While issuing 15 guidelines, the bench said the measures should remain in force and binding, until such time as appropriate legislation or regulatory frameworks were enacted by the competent authority. All educational institutions were directed to adopt and implement a uniform mental health policy, drawing cues from the "Ummeed" draft guidelines, the "Manodarpan" initiative, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. "This policy shall be reviewed and updated annually and made publicly accessible on institutional websites and notice boards of the institutes," the bench said. The top court highlighted Centre's preventive steps to mitigate the situation, with "Ummeed" (understand, motivate, manage, empathise, empower, and develop) draft guidelines -- meant to prevent school student suicides -- released by the Ministry of Education in 2023. For a broader reach, the court said, the Ministry of Education launched "Manodarpan", mental health and well-being of students during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The verdict came on an appeal against an order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, rejecting the plea to transfer the investigation over the unnatural death of a 17-year-old National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test aspirant, preparing in Vishakhapatnam, to the CBI. Passing a slew of guidelines, the bench said all educational institutions with 100 or more enrolled students should either appoint or engage at least one qualified counsellor, psychologist, or social worker with demonstrable training in child and adolescent mental health. "Institutions with fewer students shall establish formal referral linkages with external mental health professionals," the verdict said. The bench continued, "All residential-based institutions shall install tamper-proof ceiling fans or equivalent safety devices, and shall restrict access to rooftops, balconies, and other high-risk areas, in order to deter impulsive acts of self-harm." All educational institutions, particularly coaching institutes or centres, were asked to refrain from segregating students' batches on the basis of academic performance, public shaming, or assignment of academic targets disproportionate to their capacities. "All educational institutions shall establish robust, confidential, and accessible mechanisms for the reporting, redressal, and prevention of incidents involving sexual assault, harassment, ragging, and bullying on the basis of caste, class, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or ethnicity," the order said. The bench stressed on the need for zero tolerance when it came to retaliatory actions against complainants or whistle-blowers. In all such cases, immediate referral to trained mental health professionals must be ensured, and the student's safety, physical and psychological, should be prioritised, it said. "Failure to take timely or adequate action in such cases, especially where such neglect contributes to a student's self-harm or suicide, shall be treated as institutional culpability, making the administration liable to regulatory and legal consequences," the bench added. All coaching hubs, including Jaipur, Kota, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai, were directed to implement heightened mental health protection and preventive measures. The guidelines would apply to all educational institutions, including public and private schools, colleges, universities, training centres, coaching institutes, residential academies and hostels, irrespective of their affiliation. The top court in a separate case took cognisance of suicides in educational institutions and directed the constitution of a National Task Force on mental health concerns of students and prevention of suicides in higher educational institutions. "We may clarify that these guidelines are not in supersession but in parallel to the ongoing work of the National Task Force on mental health concerns of students and are being issued to provide an interim protective architecture in the interregnum," the bench clarified. All states and union territories, as far as practicable, were directed to notify rules within two months mandating registration, student protection norms, and grievance redressal mechanisms for all private coaching centres. The bench directed the Centre to file a compliance affidavit before it within 90 days detailing the steps taken to implement these guidelines and the monitoring systems put in place. It posted the matter for October 27 for receiving the compliance report. Dealing with the unnatural death case, the bench directed that the investigation shall be transferred to the CBI. The CBI director was ordered to ensure immediate registration of case and the investigation being assigned to a team under the supervision of jurisdictional CBI superintendent. PTI Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!
Indian Express
25-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Suicides on campus: Supreme Court issues 15 guidelines, calls for mental health policy
Outlining the rise in suicides and mental health issues among students in educational institutions, the Supreme Court on Friday issued pan-India guidelines to combat the problem. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said there remained a 'legislative and regulatory vacuum' in the country with respect to a unified, enforceable framework for suicide prevention of students in educational institutions, coaching centres, and student-centric environments. While issuing 15 guidelines, the bench said the measures should remain in force and binding, until such time as appropriate legislation or regulatory frameworks were enacted by the competent authority. All educational institutions were directed to adopt and implement a uniform mental health policy, drawing cues from the 'Ummeed' draft guidelines, the 'Manodarpan' initiative, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. 'This policy shall be reviewed and updated annually and made publicly accessible on institutional websites and notice boards of the institutes,' the bench said. The top court highlighted Centre's preventive steps to mitigate the situation, with 'Ummeed' (understand, motivate, manage, empathise, empower, and develop) draft guidelines — meant to prevent school student suicides — released by the Ministry of Education in 2023. For a broader reach, the court said, the Ministry of Education launched 'Manodarpan', mental health and well-being of students during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond. The verdict came on an appeal against an order of the Andhra Pradesh HC, rejecting the plea to transfer the probe over the unnatural death of a 17-year-old National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test aspirant, preparing in Vishakhapatnam, to the CBI. The bench said all educational institutions with 100 or more enrolled students should either appoint or engage at least one qualified counsellor, psychologist, or social worker with demonstrable training in child and adolescent mental health. 'Institutions with fewer students shall establish formal referral linkages with external mental health professionals,' the verdict said. The bench continued, 'All residential-based institutions shall install tamper-proof ceiling fans or equivalent safety devices, and shall restrict access to rooftops, balconies, and other high-risk areas, in order to deter impulsive acts of self-harm.' All educational institutions, particularly coaching institutes or centres, were asked to refrain from segregating students' batches on the basis of academic performance, public shaming, or assignment of academic targets disproportionate to their capacities. 'All educational institutions shall establish robust, confidential, and accessible mechanisms for the reporting, redressal, and prevention of incidents involving sexual assault, harassment, ragging, and bullying on the basis of caste, class, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or ethnicity,' the order said. The bench stressed on the need for zero tolerance when it came to retaliatory actions against complainants or whistle-blowers. In all such cases, immediate referral to trained mental health professionals must be ensured, and the student's safety, physical and psychological, should be prioritised, it said. 'Failure to take timely or adequate action in such cases… shall be treated as institutional culpability, making the administration liable to regulatory and legal consequences,' the bench added. The guidelines would apply to all educational institutions, including public and private schools, colleges, universities, training centres, coaching institutes, residential academies and hostels, irrespective of their affiliation. The top court in a separate case took cognisance of suicides in educational institutions and directed the constitution of a National Task Force on mental health concerns of students and prevention of suicides in higher educational institutions.
Hindustan Times
25-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Suicides in educational institutions: SC issues pan-India guidelines
New Delhi, Outlining the rise in suicides and mental health issues among students in educational institutions, the Supreme Court on Friday issued pan-India guidelines to combat the problem. Suicides in educational institutions: SC issues pan-India guidelines A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta said there remained a "legislative and regulatory vacuum" in the country with respect to a unified, enforceable framework for suicide prevention of students in educational institutions, coaching centres, and student-centric environments. While issuing 15 guidelines, the bench said the measures should remain in force and binding, until such time as appropriate legislation or regulatory frameworks were enacted by the competent authority. All educational institutions were directed to adopt and implement a uniform mental health policy, drawing cues from the "Ummeed" draft guidelines, the "Manodarpan" initiative, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy. "This policy shall be reviewed and updated annually and made publicly accessible on institutional websites and notice boards of the institutes," the bench said. The top court highlighted Centre's preventive steps to mitigate the situation, with "Ummeed" draft guidelines meant to prevent school student suicides released by the Ministry of Education in 2023. For a broader reach, the court said, the Ministry of Education launched "Manodarpan", mental health and well-being of students during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The verdict came on an appeal against an order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, rejecting the plea to transfer the investigation over the unnatural death of a 17-year-old National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test aspirant, preparing in Vishakhapatnam, to the CBI. Passing a slew of guidelines, the bench said all educational institutions with 100 or more enrolled students should either appoint or engage at least one qualified counsellor, psychologist, or social worker with demonstrable training in child and adolescent mental health. "Institutions with fewer students shall establish formal referral linkages with external mental health professionals," the verdict said. The bench continued, "All residential-based institutions shall install tamper-proof ceiling fans or equivalent safety devices, and shall restrict access to rooftops, balconies, and other high-risk areas, in order to deter impulsive acts of self-harm." All educational institutions, particularly coaching institutes or centres, were asked to refrain from segregating students' batches on the basis of academic performance, public shaming, or assignment of academic targets disproportionate to their capacities. "All educational institutions shall establish robust, confidential, and accessible mechanisms for the reporting, redressal, and prevention of incidents involving sexual assault, harassment, ragging, and bullying on the basis of caste, class, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or ethnicity," the order said. The bench stressed on the need for zero tolerance when it came to retaliatory actions against complainants or whistle-blowers. In all such cases, immediate referral to trained mental health professionals must be ensured, and the student's safety, physical and psychological, should be prioritised, it said. "Failure to take timely or adequate action in such cases, especially where such neglect contributes to a student's self-harm or suicide, shall be treated as institutional culpability, making the administration liable to regulatory and legal consequences," the bench added. All coaching hubs, including Jaipur, Kota, Chennai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai, were directed to implement heightened mental health protection and preventive measures. The guidelines would apply to all educational institutions, including public and private schools, colleges, universities, training centres, coaching institutes, residential academies and hostels, irrespective of their affiliation. The top court in a separate case took cognisance of suicides in educational institutions and directed the constitution of a National Task Force on mental health concerns of students and prevention of suicides in higher educational institutions. "We may clarify that these guidelines are not in supersession but in parallel to the ongoing work of the National Task Force on mental health concerns of students and are being issued to provide an interim protective architecture in the interregnum," the bench clarified. All states and union territories, as far as practicable, were directed to notify rules within two months mandating registration, student protection norms, and grievance redressal mechanisms for all private coaching centres. The bench directed the Centre to file a compliance affidavit before it within 90 days detailing the steps taken to implement these guidelines and the monitoring systems put in place. It posted the matter for October 27 for receiving the compliance report. Dealing with the unnatural death case, the bench directed that the investigation shall be transferred to the CBI. The CBI director was ordered to ensure immediate registration of case and the investigation being assigned to a team under the supervision of jurisdictional CBI superintendent. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
