Originating from the Wellness Centre, the draft involves key stakeholders like student welfare deans, psychologists, and external advisors. This ensures a balanced approach rooted in real-world insights and best practices.

The ‘Sahyog 2.0’ inter-IIT colloquium provided vital momentum, sharing experiences from peer institutions to inform a inclusive framework. Following Sahyog 1.0’s triumphs, it responds to Supreme Court and UGC mandates for better mental health infrastructure.

Key topics included policy formulation, crisis intervention, prevention strategies, and integrating wellness units with counseling services. Emphasis was placed on SOPs for emergencies and standardizing approaches across IITs.

Diverse participants enriched the dialogue: IIT delegates, medical experts from AIIMS Rishikesh and beyond, social scientists from TISS, university reps from DU and O.P. Jindal, and even law enforcement specialists. Notable were inputs from a Supreme Court advocate and human behavior expert.

Prof. K.K. Pant, the institute’s director, affirmed, ‘Mental well-being is integral to educational success. Events like Sahyog 2.0 reflect our proactive stance.’

As this policy takes shape, it holds potential to influence national standards, prioritizing student resilience in high-stakes academic pursuits. IIT Roorkee’s forward-thinking model could inspire widespread change.