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...

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