In the high-pressure world of India’s premier engineering institutions, where academic rigor is legendary, the conversation around student mental health is shifting from a peripheral concern to a central institutional priority. Recognizing this critical need, IIT Roorkee has taken the lead in developing a comprehensive mental health policy framework designed to be adopted as a standardized model across all Indian Institutes of Technology. This pioneering initiative aims to replace fragmented, campus-specific approaches with a unified and structured system for mental health governance. The initial draft, formulated by IIT Roorkee’s Wellness Centre with extensive input from the Dean of Student Welfare, clinical psychologists, and faculty, marks a significant step toward creating a more supportive academic environment. This proactive measure not only addresses the immediate well-being of students but also aligns with recent directives from the Supreme Court of India and the University Grants Commission (UGC), which emphasize the profound responsibility of educational institutions in safeguarding student mental health.
A Collaborative Blueprint for Well-being
The development of this unified framework was significantly accelerated through a landmark inter-IIT consultation platform known as SAHYOG 2.0. This event served as a crucial crucible for collaboration, bringing together deans, faculty members, and mental health professionals from every IIT to share institutional best practices and contribute valuable policy insights. The discussions were comprehensive, covering essential themes such as effective strategies for policy formulation, the implementation of both preventive and crisis-response interventions, and the critical need to strengthen campus wellness centers. A key focus was the creation of clear standard operating procedures for handling mental health emergencies, ensuring a consistent and effective response regardless of the campus. This extensive collaboration underscores a collective commitment to establishing a responsive and standardized support system that prioritizes student well-being as a fundamental component of the academic experience across the entire IIT network.
The initiative’s credibility and depth were further enhanced by incorporating expertise from outside the IIT ecosystem, ensuring the framework is grounded in the latest clinical and social science research. The consultation process featured extensive dialogue with specialists from some of India’s leading national institutions, including AIIMS Rishikesh, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS). This cross-pollination of ideas allowed for the integration of diverse perspectives and cutting-edge practices into the policy draft. According to Director Prof. K K Pant, this collective effort highlights the IITs’ shared responsibility to address student mental health through the creation of robust institutional mechanisms. The resulting framework was not merely a set of guidelines but a foundational pillar designed to support academic excellence by ensuring that the mental and emotional well-being of every student was nurtured and protected.
