Gujarat mandates mental health and suicide prevention in schools
Secondary and higher secondary schools in the state must now establish wellness teams and provide professional counselling for students.
The Gujarat government has made mental health support and suicide prevention measures compulsory for schools teaching Classes 9 to 12, according to The News Mill. The initiative, led by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, aims to address student emotional well-being alongside academic performance.
Under the new regulations, all schools affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) must create a School Wellness Team (SWT). Institutions with 100 or more students are required to hire at least one qualified psychologist, social worker, or counsellor trained in adolescent mental health.
The framework, guided by Education Minister Dr Pradyuman Vaja and Minister of State for Education Rivabaa Jadeja, incorporates Regulation 16(A) into existing state education regulations. The policy responds to student stress caused by examination pressure, social media, and family expectations.
The School Wellness Team will be led by the principal and include teachers, a management committee representative, a non-teaching staff member, and student peer leaders called ‘Mano-Mitra’. These peer leaders will support classmates and help them connect with professional help.
Schools with fewer than 100 students must set up formal referral systems with external services like Community Health Centres or the District Mental Health Programme. The regulations also prohibit schools from segregating or humiliating students based on their examination marks.
A District-Level Monitoring Committee, headed by the District Magistrate or District Collector, will oversee the implementation of these rules.