When students struggle, schools must act: Gujarat introduces new mental health rules

Schools in Gujarat will have to establish dedicated mental health support systems for students in Classes 9 to 12, with new state regulations making wellness teams, peer-support networks and professional counselling arrangements mandatory.

The provisions have been introduced under the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Regulations 1974 and will apply to schools affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB), according to a state government release issued on Nov 1.

The decision aims to ensure that students' emotional and psychological well-being receives the same attention as their academic performance. The government has identified examination pressure, competition for marks, excessive social media use, family expectations and uncertainty about the future as factors affecting students' mental health.

The new regulations have been framed in accordance with the Supreme Court's guidelines and directives concerning student mental health and suicide prevention.

The state has also adopted the UMMEED (Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower and Develop) guidelines developed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) as a reference framework for implementing the provisions.

Gujarat schools to establish mandatory wellness teams

Under the new regulations, every school offering Classes 9 to 12 must constitute a School Wellness Team (SWT) at the beginning of each academic year. The functioning of these teams will be reviewed annually to assess their activities and implementation.

The school principal will head the team, while a counsellor or a designated teacher will serve as its coordinator. The composition will also include one teacher each from the secondary and higher secondary sections.

A representative from the School Management Committee, one non-teaching staff member and two student peer leaders, known as 'Mano-Mitra,' will also be part of the team. The two student representatives will come from the secondary and higher secondary sections.

These teams will receive training to protect students' emotional well-being, recognize early signs of psychological distress and respond promptly to situations involving suicide risks or other emergencies.

The initiative is intended to create a support structure within schools so that students experiencing emotional difficulties can be identified and guided toward appropriate assistance.

Counsellors and mental health professionals to become mandatory

The Gujarat government has made the appointment of at least one qualified mental health professional compulsory in schools with 100 or more students.

Schools must appoint a counsellor, psychologist or social worker with training in child and adolescent mental health to provide the required support.

Institutions with fewer than 100 students will have to establish formal referral arrangements with external mental health professionals. These arrangements must include access to nearby community health centers, primary health centers, the District Mental Health Programme and Tele-MANAS services.

The Mano-Mitra initiative will provide another layer of support through student participation. Selected peer leaders will offer initial emotional assistance to fellow students and guide those requiring professional intervention toward the appropriate support services.

The regulations also require schools to arrange additional mentoring and counselling during periods when students may experience heightened academic pressure. These include board examinations, result announcements and transitions from Class 8 to 9 and Class 10 to 11.

No public humiliation or segregation based on examination marks

The new regulations also seek to address unhealthy academic competition and practices that could negatively affect students' confidence and mental well-being.

Schools will not be allowed to segregate students based on their examination results or marks. Publicly humiliating students or comparing them with their peers in ways that could cause emotional distress will also be prohibited.

Instead, institutions must encourage an atmosphere built around equality, dignity, cooperation and positive reinforcement. The government wants schools to move away from practices that place excessive emphasis on academic rankings at the cost of students' emotional health.

Schools will also have to organize activities such as Yoga, meditation, art, music, gardening, dance and sports. These activities are intended to provide students with opportunities to engage in creative and recreational pursuits while supporting their mental well-being.

Confidential counselling and mental health training for school staff

The regulations require schools to provide students with confidential and accessible channels through which they can communicate their concerns to counsellors or designated teachers.

Institutions must also install suggestion boxes and prominently display child helpline numbers along with the contact details of their School Wellness Teams. These arrangements are intended to make it easier for students to seek assistance without fear of exposure or judgment.

Training will extend to both teaching and non-teaching employees. All school staff members must undergo training conducted by certified mental health professionals at least twice a year.

Schools will also have to establish procedures for providing psychological first aid, identifying warning signs of mental distress, responding to self-harm incidents and referring students to appropriate support services.

The regulations specify that any indication of self-harm, suicidal thoughts or severe psychological distress must receive immediate attention. A student who attempts suicide or engages in self-harm must never be left alone.

Schools must arrange appropriate medical or emergency assistance without delay in such situations. The provisions place responsibility on institutions to respond promptly rather than leave students without immediate supervision and care.

Maintaining the confidentiality of students' mental health information will also be compulsory. Schools must protect counselling records and share sensitive details only with authorized individuals directly involved in a student's safety, treatment or welfare.

Schools must address bullying, cyberbullying and discrimination

The new framework also requires schools to establish confidential grievance redressal mechanisms to address complaints involving bullying, cyberbullying, ragging and sexual harassment.

These mechanisms must also cover discrimination based on caste, gender, religion, language, socioeconomic status and disability.

The regulations introduce provisions for institutional accountability when schools fail to respond appropriately to situations involving student safety and mental health.

If an institution is aware, or could reasonably be expected to be aware, of a risk situation but fails to take timely and appropriate action, it may face a finding of institutional culpability.

Such accountability may apply when the school's failure is found to have significantly contributed to serious harm, self-harm or a student's suicide. Disciplinary or legal action may follow under the applicable laws.

Career guidance and district-level monitoring

Alongside mental health support, the regulations provide for regular career guidance to help students understand the different opportunities available after school.

Students will receive guidance on educational, vocational and skill-based options, as well as entrepreneurship opportunities. The provision aims to help them explore different career paths and reduce pressure associated with academic choices and uncertainty about their professional futures.

The Gujarat government has also established a district-level monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of the new regulations.

The committee will be headed by the District Collector and will monitor compliance, examine complaints and review serious incidents involving student mental health and safety.

It will also recommend corrective measures wherever necessary. Schools will be required to comply with the directives issued by the district-level committee, according to the government release.

The new provisions establish a broader framework for student welfare in Gujarat's secondary and higher secondary schools, covering early identification of mental distress, professional counselling, peer support, staff training, grievance redressal and institutional accountability.