Gujarat Makes Mental Health Support and Counsellors Mandatory in Schools

The Gujarat government has made mental health support and qualified counsellors compulsory in secondary and higher secondary schools to help lower student stress and prevent suicides. The new rules apply to Classes 9 through 12 in schools under the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board, following guidelines issued by the Supreme Court. State officials note the policy treats mental well-being with the same priority as academic marks, addressing pressures like exam stress, heavy competition, excessive social media use, family expectations, and career worries.

School Teams And Counsellors

Every school with classes from 9 to 12 must set up a School Wellness Team at the start of each academic year, headed by the principal with a counsellor or teacher as coordinator. The team includes teachers, a management representative, non-teaching staff, and two student peer leaders called 'Mano-Mitra'. Schools with 100 or smaller enrollments must partner with external mental health professionals, local health centres, or Tele-MANAS services, while larger schools must hire at least one qualified child psychologist, counsellor, or social worker.

Rules For Schools

Institutions are banned from grouping students by marks, publicly humiliating them, or making harmful comparisons. Schools must arrange regular activities like yoga, meditation, art, and sports, while providing confidential complaint boxes and helpline numbers. Staff must receive training twice a year from certified mental health experts, and any sign of self-harm must trigger immediate medical help without leaving the student alone. The rules also order strict privacy for counselling records, clear grievance systems against bullying and discrimination, and district-level monitoring committees led by the District Collector.

Context

These mandates reflect a growing nationwide push by education boards and courts to address student mental health concerns proactively rather than reacting only after tragedies occur. School-based wellness frameworks generally aim to bridge the gap between young people facing distress and professional help by training teachers and peers to spot early warning signs.