IIT Kharagpur distributes wellbeing cards to 16,500 students to boost mental health

IIT Kharagpur handed out personalised wellbeing cards to 16,500 students on Wednesday as part of a push to strengthen mental health support on campus. The cards were distributed by SETU, the institute’s integrated student‑campus initiative and mobile app that offers holistic wellbeing, mental‑health help, academic tracking and emergency assistance. The G‑Sec Welfare Team worked through the night with the Institute’s Security Section to ensure every card reached its recipient. Dean of Student Wellbeing Arun Chakraborty marked World Mental Health Day by stressing that mental health must be part of everyday life and that the campus should make every student feel heard, understood and supported. The event also featured screenings of eleven short films created by students that explore mental health beyond illness and clinical diagnoses. The move follows the recent death of a second‑year BTech student at IIT Bombay and a fatal fall on August 13 involving a second‑year mechanical engineering student from Rajasthan at IIT Kharagpur, adding urgency to the institute’s efforts. In 2025, seven student deaths were reported at IIT Kharagpur, underscoring a growing concern for student wellbeing.

Context

Student mental‑health programmes have become a priority at Indian engineering colleges after a spate of campus deaths. Initiatives like SETU aim to provide easy access to counselling and emergency help, reducing stigma and encouraging early intervention.