NEW DELHI, July 26: In a significant move to address the rising incidence of student suicides in India, the Supreme Court has issued a comprehensive set of 15 guidelines aimed at strengthening mental health support systems across all educational institutions — including schools, colleges, coaching centres, hostels, and training academies.
A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta invoked its powers under Article 32 of the Constitution to issue the guidelines, declaring they will carry the force of law under Article 141 until legislation is enacted by Parliament or the states. The directives were issued while hearing a petition related to the 2023 suicide of a 17-year-old NEET aspirant in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. The court also ordered a CBI investigation into the student’s death, overturning the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s earlier refusal.
Citing disturbing data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) — which recorded 13,044 student suicides in 2022, up from 5,425 in 2001 — the court observed that academic stress, exam pressure, and lack of institutional support were key contributing factors. It noted that 8% of all suicides in India are by students, with 2,248 deaths linked to exam failure alone in 2022.
Key among the court’s directives are:
Mandatory mental health counselling in all institutions.
Dedicated mentors or counsellors assigned to small student groups, especially during exams or transitions.
Mental health training for staff at least twice a year, led by certified professionals.
Establishment of internal grievance redressal committees to address issues like sexual harassment, ragging, and academic pressure.
Mandatory sensitisation of staff to inclusively handle students from marginalised and vulnerable communities.
Integration of life skills, emotional regulation, and mental health literacy into academic and extracurricular activities.
Prominent display of suicide prevention helpline numbers, including Tele-MANAS, in hostels, classrooms, and websites.
Maintenance of anonymised wellness records for students.
The Supreme Court emphasized that these institutional safeguards are necessary to prevent psychological distress among students and promote a supportive academic environment.
The court’s directions align with the efforts of a national task force on student mental health, chaired by retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ravindra S. Bhat, and mark a crucial step toward systemic reform in India’s education sector.
