New Delhi – In a proactive step to address the escalating mental health challenges in India's academic landscape, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has released draft guidelines on a uniform policy for mental health and well-being in higher educational institutions (HEIs). Approved during its 594th meeting, the guidelines aim to create a standardized framework for counseling services, awareness programs, and support mechanisms across universities and colleges.

The UGC has opened a 15-day public consultation window, urging students, faculty, administrators, and civil society to submit feedback by January 29, 2026, via email to Dr. Sunita Siwach, Joint Secretary, at ssiwach.ugc@nic.in. The document is accessible on the UGC website at www.ugc.gov.in.

The initiative, circulated via an official letter dated January 13, from UGC Secretary Prof. Manish R. Joshi, calls on vice-chancellors of all universities and directors of national institutes of importance, such as IITs and IIMs, to widely disseminate the guidelines within their institutions. This consultative approach underscores the Commission's commitment to inclusivity, ensuring diverse voices shape policies that could safeguard the psychological health of millions of young learners amid intense academic pressures.

Over the past two years, the crisis of student suicides in Indian HEIs has reached alarming proportions, underscoring the urgent need for systemic intervention. According to Ministry of Education data, 122 suicides were reported across premier institutions including IITs, NITs, and central universities between 2018 and 2024, with a sharp escalation in 2023 and 2024 alone, marked by high-profile cases at IIT Delhi, where five students died by suicide during this period.

Nationally, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recorded 13,892 student suicides in 2023, accounting for 8.1% of all suicides in India, following a 4% rise in 2024 that outpaced the overall 2% increase in total suicides. These figures, disproportionately affecting college-aged youth due to factors like academic competition, isolation, and financial stress, highlight a "suicide epidemic" in elite campuses, as termed by the Supreme Court in recent hearings.

Mental health support is not merely beneficial but essential in HEIs to mitigate these risks and cultivate resilient futures. In high-stakes environments where over 60% of students report academic pressure as a primary stressor, robust well-being policies can reduce suicidal ideation, prevalent among 11-12% of university students in recent surveys and enhance overall outcomes like retention and performance. By destigmatizing help-seeking and integrating peer support and professional counseling, such frameworks prevent irreversible losses while empowering a generation to thrive beyond grades, fostering empathy, innovation, and societal progress.

The UGC's move comes at a critical juncture, with the Supreme Court actively monitoring student mental health through appointed panels and advocating for nationwide prevention strategies. Stakeholders are encouraged to review the guidelines promptly, as their input could fortify a national safety net for higher education. "Your cooperation will greatly contribute to strengthening the framework for mental health and well-being," Prof. Joshi emphasized in the letter, signaling a collective call to action for safer campuses.