Schools across Gujarat will now have to take a more structured approach towards students’ mental health, with the state government making wellness teams mandatory in all secondary and higher secondary schools.
Under the new regulations, every school affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) must constitute a School Wellness Team (SWT). Schools with an enrolment of 100 or more students will also be required to appoint at least one qualified mental health counsellor, psychologist or social worker.
The guidelines cover students from Classes 9 to 12 and aim to address concerns such as examination stress, academic competition, anxiety, depression and student suicides.
The School Wellness Team will be headed by the school principal and include a counsellor or designated teachers from the secondary and higher secondary sections, a School Management Committee representative, a non-teaching staff member and two student representatives called ‘Mano-Mitra’.
The Mano-Mitra initiative will encourage peer support within schools. The student representatives will be expected to provide initial emotional support to classmates, motivate them to seek professional help when needed and connect students facing difficulties with the appropriate support system.
Schools with fewer than 100 students will have to establish referral arrangements with external mental health professionals and nearby healthcare facilities, including Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, District Mental Health Programme facilities and Tele-MANAS.
The regulations also prohibit practices that could affect students’ self-esteem and mental well-being. Schools will not be allowed to segregate students based on academic performance, publicly compare marks or adopt practices that create fear, anxiety or a sense of inferiority among them.
To make it easier for students to discuss their concerns, schools will have to provide confidential channels to seek help through counsellors, mentor teachers and help boxes. Activities such as yoga, meditation, music, art, dance and sports will also be encouraged as part of students’ overall well-being.
The guidelines place emphasis on preparing school staff to recognise and respond to mental health concerns. Both teaching and non-teaching employees will have to undergo training by certified mental health professionals at least twice a year. Schools must also put in place procedures to identify warning signs, provide psychological first aid and respond promptly to cases involving self-harm or suicide risks.
At the district level, a monitoring committee headed by the District Magistrate or Collector will oversee the implementation of the regulations. The committee will also look into complaints and serious incidents and recommend corrective measures.
Schools that fail to take appropriate action despite being aware of potential risks to a student’s safety could face disciplinary or legal action under the applicable laws.