Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government is set to introduce a uniform policy for student mental health and well-being across higher education institutions in the state, with an aim to create a healthy, safe and stress-free academic environment.
Higher Education Minister Yogendra Upadhyay chaired a high-level meeting at his residence in Lucknow on Monday to discuss the proposed policy, its implementation framework and a roadmap for providing mental health support and counselling services to students. Principal Secretary, Higher Education, M.P. Agrawal, Special Secretary Nidhi Srivastava and other departmental officials attended the meeting.
The initiative is part of the Yogi Adityanath government’s efforts to make higher education more modern, quality-oriented and student-centric while giving greater priority to the mental well-being of students. The proposed policy seeks to ensure that students facing academic pressure, stress or emotional challenges can access timely and appropriate support.
Three-Tier Implementation Framework
Under the proposed framework, a coordinated mechanism will be established at the state, district and institutional levels. At the state level, the Director of Higher Education will serve as the nodal and implementing authority. An operations committee headed by the Principal Secretary will oversee implementation, budgetary requirements and periodic reviews.
At the district level, committees headed by the District Magistrates will coordinate with universities and colleges to ensure effective implementation of the policy.
Every higher education institution will be required to establish a Mental Health Support Cell, where students can access counselling in a confidential environment. The policy also proposes an online mental health portal through which students will be able to undergo assessments and seek support.
Depending on their needs, students may be connected with counsellors, psychologists or specialised mental health services.
Teachers and Staff to Receive Training
The proposed policy will also focus on building the capacity of teachers, non-teaching staff and student representatives to identify signs of stress and emotional distress and guide students towards appropriate assistance.
Trained teachers will conduct small-group sessions focusing on mental health awareness, stress management and life skills. A dedicated helpline and referral mechanism will also be developed to provide immediate assistance in cases of severe stress or emergencies.
The policy will place special emphasis on protecting students’ privacy, confidentiality and dignity while providing mental health support.
Mental Well-Being Linked to Holistic Development
The government plans to integrate mental health with students’ overall personality development through awareness campaigns, workshops, sports and cultural activities, career counselling and positive engagement through social media.
For effective implementation and monitoring, the Higher Education Department will develop an integrated portal and dashboard to track progress and facilitate oversight.
The proposed policy is aimed at creating an institutional culture where mental health is treated as an integral part of education and students are able to seek support without stigma or fear.
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