New Gujarat Rules: Mental Health Support for Classes 9 to 12
Gandhinagar, November 2: Gujarat has notified a new set of rules requiring schools to strengthen mental health support and suicide prevention measures for students in Classes 9 to 12. Schools with at least 100 students must employ a qualified counsellor, while all eligible institutions must create a School Wellness Team.
The rules apply to schools affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board. They respond to concerns about academic pressure, examination stress, social media use and family expectations, which the government says are increasingly affecting student well-being.
The Education Department has inserted Regulation 16(A) into the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Regulations, 1974, and added Appendix 8, which contains detailed guidance on mental health, student welfare and suicide prevention.
According to officials, the policy was shaped under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, with guidance from Education Minister Pradyumn Vaja and Minister of State for Education Rivaba Jadeja.
The initiative follows a Supreme Court verdict that prescribed 15 mandatory guidelines and four directions for educational institutions. The Union Ministry of Law and Justice has instructed all states to implement them. Gujarat has also adopted the UMMEED guidelines prepared by NCERT as a reference framework.
School Wellness Teams and Peer Support
Each school offering Classes 9 to 12 must constitute a School Wellness Team at the start of every academic year. Its responsibilities include identifying students in mental distress, acting on suicide risk and ensuring timely assistance. The team's functioning will be reviewed annually.
The Principal will chair the team, while the school counsellor or a designated teacher will coordinate its work. The team will also include representatives from the secondary and higher secondary sections, a School Management Committee member, a non-teaching staff member and two student peer leaders, called Mano-Mitra, drawn from Classes 9-10 and 11-12.
Mano-Mitra will create a peer-support network in schools, offering initial emotional support to classmates and directing those in need to appropriate help.
Counsellors, Linkages and Mentoring
Schools with 100 or more students must appoint at least one qualified counsellor, psychologist or social worker trained in child and adolescent mental health. Institutions with fewer students must formally connect with external experts, nearby community and primary health centres, district mental health programmes and Tele-MANAS.
During major transitions, including board examinations, results and promotion from Class 8 to 9 and Class 10 to 11, special mentoring will be arranged in small groups.
Respect, Confidentiality and Accountability
The rules prohibit segregating students by academic performance, publicly shaming them, comparing them with peers or labelling them. Schools must also promote regular co-curricular activities such as yoga, meditation, arts, music, sports, and programmes like NSS, NCC and community service.
All teaching and non-teaching staff must receive mental health training twice a year. Any sign of self-harm or suicidal thoughts must be acted upon immediately, and student information must remain confidential. After a suicide incident, schools must provide psychological and social support to students, staff and families, with only the Principal or an authorised officer speaking to the media.
Schools that fail to act on known risks and cause serious harm to a student may be held responsible, and disciplinary or legal action may follow. A district-level monitoring committee, led by the District Magistrate or Collector, will oversee implementation.