Gujarat govt mandates mental health support, counsellors in schools to prevent student suicides

The Gujarat government has introduced new regulations mandating mental health support mechanisms in secondary and higher secondary schools as part of efforts to address student stress and prevent suicides, including dedicated wellness teams, peer-support systems and qualified counsellors.

Gujarat govt mandates mental health support, counsellors in schools to prevent student suicides (REUTERS)The provisions, introduced under the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Regulations 1974, will apply to Classes 9 to 12 in schools affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB), a state government release said on Sunday.

RRB ALP Admit Card 2026 for CBT 1 released, direct link to download here The state government said the decision aims to ensure students' mental well-being receives as much attention as their academic performance, amid concerns over examination pressure, competition for marks, excessive social media use, family expectations and anxiety about the future.

The regulations have been framed in accordance with guidelines and directives issued by the Supreme Court on students' mental health and suicide prevention. ONGC Apprentice Recruitment 2026: Apply for 3047 posts at ongcindia.com, details here The state has also adopted the UMMEED (Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower and Develop) guidelines developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as a reference framework.

"Under the new rules, every school offering Classes 9 to 12 must constitute a School Wellness Team (SWT) at the beginning of each academic year. The team's functioning will be reviewed annually. The school principal will head the team, while a counsellor or designated teacher will serve as its coordinator," the release said.

The team will also include one teacher each from the secondary and higher secondary sections, a School Management Committee representative, a non-teaching staff member and two student peer leaders, called 'Mano-Mitra', representing the two sections, it added.

DU Assistant Recruitment 2026: Apply for 215 posts at du.ac.in, check details here The teams will be trained to safeguard students' emotional well-being, identify signs of mental distress and respond promptly to suicide risks and other emergencies.

The government has also made the appointment of at least one qualified counsellor, psychologist or social worker trained in child and adolescent mental health mandatory in schools with 100 or more students. Schools with fewer than 100 students must establish formal referral arrangements with external mental health professionals, nearby community and primary health centres, the District Mental Health Programme and Tele-MANAS services, it said.

Under the Mano-Mitra initiative, selected students will provide initial emotional support to their peers and guide those requiring assistance towards appropriate support services. The regulations also require schools to provide additional mentoring or counselling during critical periods, including board examinations, result announcements and transitions from Class 8 to 9 and Class 10 to 11.

In a move to discourage unhealthy academic competition, schools will be prohibited from segregating students on the basis of examination results or marks, publicly humiliating them or comparing them with other students in ways that could cause emotional distress, the release said.

Schools must instead promote an environment based on equality, dignity, encouragement and cooperation. They will also be required to organise activities such as Yoga, meditation, art, music, gardening, dance and sports to support students' mental well-being.

Students must have confidential and accessible channels to share their concerns with counsellors or designated teachers. Schools will also be required to provide suggestion boxes and prominently display child helpline numbers and School Wellness Team contact details.