IITs Fail to Provide Adequate Mental Health Support Amid Rising Student Suicides
RTI data reveals a shocking shortage of mental health counsellors in IITs, with only IIT Ropar meeting UGC recommendations. What is the government doing to address this crisis?
IITs Fail to Provide Adequate Mental Health Support Amid Rising Student Suicides
As the number of student suicides continues to rise alarmingly over the past five years, a recent RTI inquiry has exposed a critical gap in mental health support at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). Despite guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) that recommend a specific number of mental health counsellors, only IIT Ropar has managed to comply with these standards.
This glaring deficiency begs the question: what measures are in place to protect the mental well-being of students in these prestigious institutions? The lack of adequate counselling services is not just a statistic; it reflects a broader systemic failure to prioritize student mental health amid increasing academic pressures.
The tragic reality is that many students may not have access to the necessary support during their most vulnerable moments. Authorities must be held accountable for these shortcomings. What steps will they take to ensure that this vital support is available to all students? As reported by The Hindu, the need for urgent intervention has never been more critical.
Source: The Hindu
