Bhopal, April 18: In a significant move to address rising mental health issues among students, the Higher Education Department of Madhya Pradesh has announced mandatory counseling services, structured mentorship, and institutional awareness programs in colleges and universities. This directive was issued on Friday and aligns with a Supreme Court ruling aimed at ensuring the early identification of stress, anxiety, and behavioral problems among students.
Under the new regulations, all institutions with 100 or more students must appoint at least one trained counselor. Colleges with fewer students are instructed to ensure access to counseling services through listed external experts.
Eligible candidates for these counseling positions include those holding a postgraduate degree in psychology, trained psychologists, social workers, and experienced professionals from related fields.
The department emphasized that mental health support should not be limited to counselors alone. Institutional awareness has been established as a key pillar of this policy. Special training programs will be organized for teaching and non-teaching staff, administrative officials, and security personnel.
These sessions will focus on mental health awareness, psychological first aid, identifying warning signs in student behavior, and ensuring timely counseling with experts.
Parental involvement has also been integrated into this framework. Institutions are requested to conduct regular awareness sessions for parents, enabling families to recognize early signs of emotional distress and provide timely support at home.
A structured mentor-mentee system, or parent-teacher system, has been made mandatory. For every group of 25 to 40 students, a faculty member will be appointed as a mentor.
Mentors will monitor attendance, academic performance, and behavior, identifying students facing difficulties. They will maintain regular contact with parents while providing guidance on academic, personal, and career-related issues.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
Leave a Comment