In a pioneering move to bolster student well-being, IIT Roorkee has kicked off the drafting of a comprehensive mental health policy for its campus. Announced on Sunday, this initiative underscores the institute’s commitment to addressing the growing mental health challenges in higher education.
The policy’s first draft, crafted by the institute’s Wellness Centre, aims to provide robust support for students, faculty, and staff. This centre already offers essential mental health services, and the new framework seeks to expand and formalize these efforts.
A collaborative team, including the Dean of Student Welfare, Associate Dean of Student Wellness, clinical psychologists, external consultants, and faculty, has shaped the draft. Their diverse expertise ensures the policy is both professionally sound and attuned to campus realities.
Strengthening this effort is ‘Sahyog 2.0’, an inter-IIT discussion forum that drew lessons from other premier institutes. Building on the success of Sahyog 1.0 in 2024, the event aligned with recent Supreme Court and UGC directives emphasizing mental health management in educational institutions.
Discussions at Sahyog 2.0 covered critical areas: crafting and implementing policies, preventive measures, emergency response systems, and the roles of wellness centres, counseling cells, and student welfare bodies. Participants also explored standard operating procedures (SOPs) for crises and the possibility of uniform policies across IITs.
The forum brought together representatives from all IITs, deans, faculty, mental health experts, and distinguished guests from AIIMS Rishikesh, Government Medical College Chandigarh, Institute of Human Behavior and Allied Sciences, King George’s Medical University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry Kolkata, O.P. Jindal Global University, Mariwala Health Initiative, Delhi University, and Uttarakhand Police’s Special Investigation Force. A Supreme Court lawyer and an anthropologist added unique perspectives.
IIT Roorkee Director Prof. K.K. Pant highlighted that mental health is now a cornerstone of academic excellence. ‘Initiatives like Sahyog 2.0 demonstrate our serious approach to this responsibility,’ he stated.
This policy could set a benchmark for other IITs, fostering a healthier academic environment nationwide. As drafts evolve through feedback, IIT Roorkee positions itself as a leader in student-centric reforms.