Gujarat schools to establish wellness teams and counsellors for students
The state government has introduced a new mental health framework for schools catering to students in classes IX to XII.
The Gujarat government on Sunday announced a new mental health and suicide prevention framework for all schools teaching classes IX to XII. According to a report by The Times of India, every school affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) must now form a School Wellness Team (SWT).
Schools with 100 or more students are required to hire at least one qualified social worker, psychologist, or counsellor trained in adolescent mental health. The framework also mandates the appointment of student peer supporters, called ‘Mano-Mitras’, to provide emotional support to classmates.
School principals will lead the SWT, with a designated teacher or counsellor acting as coordinator. The team will consist of teachers from classes IX-X and XI-XII, a school management committee representative, two Mano-Mitras, and a non-teaching staff member.
For schools with fewer than 100 students, the government has directed them to create formal referral links with district mental health programmes, Tele-MANAS services, or external professionals. The initiative follows a notification issued on September 4.
The new regulations prohibit schools from segregating students based on marks or academic results. The statement added that public humiliation or stigmatisation regarding academic performance is barred, and mental health training is now mandatory for all staff members.