The lives of many students may be saved in times to come, with the Supreme Court of India issuing 15 binding pan-India guidelines to fight the rising rate of suicides and mental health disorders among students. Supreme Court Launches 15 Guidelines for Student Mental Health.
Background & Legal Context
The celebrated judgment was on 25 July 2025 when the Supreme Court was hearing a petition. In a case lingering from the tragic death of a 17-year-old NEET aspirant in Visakhapatnam. The bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, pointed to a significant vacancy in regulation concerning a vast area of existing structures for the prevention of suicide. Consequently, such guidelines were laid under Articles 32 and 141.
Uniform Mental Health Policy
Every educational institution should publicly display a uniform mental health policy centered around UMMEED guidelines, Manodarpan and National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Mental Health Professionals
Every institution with over 100 students should have a counselor, psychologist, or trained social worker present on campus. Institutions with fewer students should maintain a formal referral link with a mental health professional on the outside.
Batch-Wise Mentoring
A mentor or counselor should be present for each batch, so that during examinations the students can freely share their anxiety and get emotional support.
Avoid Performance-Based Segregation
Institutes—including coaching centres—shall not group or segregate students based on academic performance, ranks, or targets.
Prohibition of Verbal Abuse
No teacher or staff may shame, insult, or scold in public students for their academic performance, hereditary background, or manner of learning.
Infrastructure Safety Measures
Ceiling fans in hostels need to be tamper-proof, Restrict the access to rooftops and balconies. There should be a thorough audit of the buildings to identify areas prone to suicide attempts.
Twice-Yearly Staff Training
All academic and non-academic staff will receive bi-annual certified training relating to mental health first aid, crisis intervention, and student communication.
Inclusive Sensitivity Training
Faculty and staff need to get training to interact sensitively with marginalized students. Those within SC/ST/OBC/EWS backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities, those with disabilities, and trauma history.
Zero Tolerance for Discrimination
Fairness norms with respect to discrimination, caste or gender bias, bullying, and social exclusion are strictly out of the box.
Anonymous Mental Health Reporting
Institutions must provide means for students to anonymously report bullying, harassment, or emotional distress and assure that such reports are confidential.
Emergency Referral Protocols
In cases of self-harm or extreme anxiety or depression, an emergency referral must be made to mental health professionals on an immediate basis.
Parental & Guardian Sensitization
Schools/colleges must organize workshops for parents regarding emotional development, stressful examination periods, signs of mental distress, and healthy expectations.
Regular Life-Skills Education
Incorporate mental wellness, emotional regulation, and coping skills into course work in schools and colleges. Especially during transition years (i.e. 10th Class, college entry).
Wellness Log Maintenance
Institutions will keep an anonymized mental wellness log that would maintain records of the number of referrals. Along with number of counseling sessions, and number of awareness events.
Annual Reporting to Regulatory Authorities
Educational institutions should furnish annual reports to their respective regulatory authorities. Like UGC, CBSE, AICTE, etc., with details of training, complaints, and wellness programs.
States and Union Territories have been directed to draw up notification rules within two months, especially in respect to private coaching centres. A district-level monitoring mechanism headed by District Magistrates will oversee the same. The Union Government shall file an affidavit of compliance within 90 days, laying down a road map for implementation and progress of the task force.
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Why These Guidelines Are Important
Student suicides in India reached a ghastly 13,044 in 2022, of which more than 2,200 were on account of failure in examinations. The Supreme Court thereby stated that mental health indirectly forms part of the constitutional right to life (Article 21). Thereby directed that the above-mentioned measures must be put in place to ensure the immediate protection of students until formal legislation is drawn up.
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