Supreme Court alert on mental health of students
The Supreme Court of India has acted as the custodian of the young population and the parens patriae—”parent of the nation”—invoking its constitutional duty to protect those unable to care for themselves. In a landmark judgment on July 25, the Court issued 15 nationwide guidelines aimed at addressing the escalating mental health crisis, rising suicides, and safety concerns among students in educational institutions, from schools to universities.
As this column goes to press, a BDS student, Shweta Singh from Jammu, has tragically died by suicide in Rajasthan. In 2022, out of the 170,924 recorded suicides in India, 13,044 were by students, with 2,248 linked specifically to examination failures. Alarmingly, many heads of educational institutions have abdicated their responsibilities, outsourcing them to law enforcement and failing to grasp the depth of this crisis. It is crucial to examine what the Supreme Court guidelines entail and how institutions can mobilise their capacities to address this challenge.
Supreme Court Guidelines
The Supreme Court mandates that all educational institutions adopt and implement a standardised mental health policy, subject to annual review. Institutions with 100 or more students must appoint at least one qualified counsellor with demonstrable training in mental health. Additionally, institutions are required to maintain an optimal student-to-counsellor ratio. Coaching and educational centres must refrain from segregating students based on academic performance, engaging in public shaming, or imposing unrealistic academic targets. Furthermore, all teaching and non-teaching staff must undergo mandatory training at least twice a year, conducted by certified mental health professionals. Enhanced mental health safeguards are required in coaching hubs, including clearly documented protocols for emergency referrals to mental health services, hospitals, and suicide prevention helplines. These helpline numbers must be prominently displayed in hostels, classrooms, and common areas.
The Court emphasised that these measures will remain binding until formal legislation or regulatory frameworks are established. A comprehensive, society-wide approach is necessary to address the mental health crisis among students. Below are some of the key contributing factors:
- The Fear of the Future
We live in anxious times where the weight of the past feels ever heavier, and the space for future possibilities seems to contract. As Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami wrote, “Unfortunately, the clock is ticking, the hours are going by. The past increases, the future recedes. Possibilities decreasing, regrets mounting.” This sentiment resonates globally. While reflecting on the past is important, imagining a collective future holds existential importance. Thinker Javed Ghamidi suggests Zarb-i-Fikr—translated as “Strike of Thought”—which emphasizes deep reflection and intellectual engagement as a catalyst for change. Italian theorist Antonio Gramsci remarked, “I’m a pessimist by intelligence but an optimist by will.” Students deserve the right to forge a new social contract and envision a new constitution. Their idealism must be nurtured to create a better tomorrow.
- Institutional Atrophy
These Supreme Court directives were issued in the wake of the suicide of 17-year-old NEET aspirant Sandeep Mehta. Emile Durkheim, in his seminal work Le Suicide, argued that suicide is not merely an individual act but a reflection of social pathology. Institutions—be it schools, families, or elected bodies—are failing in their duty to shape student futures. Educational heads have delegated their core responsibilities to police agencies. Families, too, face structural crises. The concept of “broken home syndrome” has long been discussed as a factor in youth mental health deterioration. Students from both economically disadvantaged and affluent backgrounds are vulnerable. A growing concern is what psychologists refer to as “parenting discombobulated”—the sense of being overwhelmed or disoriented in the face of modern parenting challenges. Educational institutions must be transformed into joyful, enriching spaces. Sadly, many students express indifference toward both their homes and their colleges or universities.
- Substance Abuse
Once viewed as a social evil, substance abuse now poses a threat to national security. Proximity to the “Golden Crescent”—comprising Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iran—makes India’s border regions particularly vulnerable. In 2002, the central government informed the Supreme Court that 15.8 million youths aged 10–17 were battling addiction. In Jammu and Kashmir, the crisis is dire. Drug peddlers in Bari Brahmana recently attacked police attempting arrests, even firing upon them. In Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann transferred around 10,000 police constables following revelations of collusion with drug syndicates. Editorials now refer to Jammu and Kashmir as “Udta J&K”—drawing parallels with drug-ridden Punjab.
Corrective Measures:
- Strengthen Local Communities:
A study in Anantnag revealed that 61% of drug addicts came from nuclear families. Philosopher Michel Foucault once said, “My job is to make windows where there were once walls.” Perhaps a reimagined Indian joint family—no longer under one roof, but clustered houses—can help counter the alienation of modernity.
- Address Job Insecurity
We must adjust to the decline of traditional salaried security. Careers once shaped by linear progression and promotions are being upended by AI and automation. For instance, Google reports that one-third of its code is now AI-generated. Middle-management positions across industries are collapsing. Educational leaders must acknowledge these structural shifts and prepare students for a transformed professional world.
Conclusion
Our academic leaders must not remain status-quoist in thought or action. We lecture more than we listen, yet listening is crucial. When students feel heard, they are less likely to act out. Institutional heads must act as caregivers, not mere careerists. As the adage goes, we must “make haste slowly.” The urgency of the student mental health crisis demands compassionate, deliberate, and systemic responses.
Prof. Gull Wani is a Kashmir-based political scientist and Honorary Senior Fellow at the Centre for Multilevel Federalism, New Delhi.
