Gujarat introduces mandatory mental health and suicide prevention measures for Classes 9 to 12

Gandhinagar, November 1, 2026: The Gujarat Government has introduced mandatory mental health and suicide prevention measures for secondary and higher secondary schools across the state, covering students of Classes 9 to 12. The new regulations aim to address rising concerns over examination pressure, academic competition, anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges among students.

Under the new provisions, introduced through Regulation 16(A) of the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Regulations, 1974, every school affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) must establish a dedicated mechanism to safeguard students’ mental health and emotional well-being.

The decision has been taken under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, with guidance from Education Minister Pradyuman Vaja and Minister of State for Education Rivabaa Jadeja. The provisions have been incorporated into Appendix 8 of the regulations.

The framework follows 15 binding guidelines and four directives issued by the Supreme Court on student mental health and suicide prevention. It also adopts the NCERT’s UMMEED guidelines, which stand for Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower and Develop.

School Wellness Teams to be mandatory

Every school offering Classes 9 to 12 must establish a School Wellness Team (SWT) at the beginning of each academic year. The team will be responsible for identifying students facing mental distress, providing initial support and coordinating appropriate interventions.

The team will comprise the school principal as its leader, a counsellor or designated teacher as coordinator, teachers representing secondary and higher secondary sections, a School Management Committee representative, two student peer-support representatives known as ‘Mano-Mitra’ and a non-teaching staff member.

The team’s functioning will be reviewed annually.

Counsellors mandatory in schools with 100 or more students

Schools with 100 or more students will have to appoint at least one qualified counsellor, psychologist or social worker trained in child and adolescent mental health.

Schools with fewer than 100 students must establish referral arrangements with external mental health professionals, nearby Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), the District Mental Health Programme and Tele-MANAS services.

Schools must also provide dedicated mentoring or counselling support during critical periods, including board examinations, result announcements and transitions from Class 8 to 9 and Class 10 to 11.

‘Mano-Mitra’ for peer support

Under the new framework, students selected as ‘Mano-Mitra’ will serve as peer-support representatives. They will provide initial emotional support to classmates, encourage mutual assistance and guide students requiring help towards appropriate support systems.

No segregation or humiliation based on academic performance

The regulations prohibit schools from segregating students inside or outside classrooms based on examination marks or academic performance.

Schools will also be prohibited from publicly humiliating students, comparing them with others or creating an environment that promotes fear, anxiety, inferiority or emotional insecurity.

Instead, schools must adopt an approach based on equality, dignity, encouragement and cooperation.

To promote mental well-being, schools will be required to organise co-curricular and extracurricular activities such as yoga, meditation, art, music, gardening, dance and sports. Existing initiatives, including Khel Mahakumbh, Finishing School, Saptadhara, Pariksha Pe Charcha, NSS, NCC, Scouts and Guides, and community service, will also form part of the broader engagement framework.

Students must have access to counsellors or designated mentor teachers to discuss their concerns confidentially. Schools must also provide facilities such as suggestion boxes to enable students to express their difficulties.

Mandatory training and suicide prevention protocols

All teaching and non-teaching staff members must undergo training by certified mental health professionals at least twice a year.

Schools must establish systems for psychological first aid, early identification of warning signs, immediate response to self-harm incidents and referral to appropriate medical or mental health services.

Any indication of suicidal thoughts, self-harm, severe mental distress or risky behaviour must be treated seriously and addressed immediately.

In the event of a suicide attempt or self-harm incident, the student must never be left alone. Schools must arrange appropriate medical or emergency assistance without delay.

The regulations also require strict confidentiality of students’ counselling records and sensitive personal information, with access restricted to authorised persons directly involved in their safety and welfare.

Following a suicide incident, schools must provide psychological, emotional and social support to affected students, teachers, staff members and family members through a postvention process. Communication about such incidents must remain factual and responsible. Only the principal or an authorised officer may interact with the media, and sensitive details, including the method, location and photographs, must not be disclosed.

Helpline details to be displayed prominently

Schools must prominently display officially notified child helpline numbers and School Wellness Team contact details on their websites, notice boards, classrooms, hostels and counselling rooms.

Grievance redressal and institutional accountability

Schools must establish confidential and accessible grievance redressal mechanisms to address sexual harassment, ragging, bullying, cyberbullying and discrimination based on caste, class, gender, religion, language, socio-economic status or disability.

Complaints must be investigated promptly and impartially.

The regulations also provide for institutional accountability. If a school fails to take timely and appropriate action despite being aware, or reasonably expected to be aware, of a risk to a student, and the failure is found to have significantly contributed to serious harm, self-harm or suicide, it may be treated as institutional culpability. Disciplinary or legal action may follow under applicable laws.

Career guidance to reduce academic pressure

The new framework also emphasises regular career guidance to help students make informed decisions and reduce anxiety about their future.

Schools must provide information about diverse educational, vocational, skill-based and entrepreneurship opportunities rather than limiting students’ aspirations to conventional academic pathways.

District-level monitoring

A District-Level Monitoring Committee, chaired by the District Magistrate or District Collector, will oversee the implementation of the regulations.

The committee will review compliance, coordinate with educational institutions, monitor complaints and serious incidents, provide guidance and recommend corrective measures. Its directives will be mandatory for schools.

The new framework seeks to make student well-being an integral part of school administration, placing mental health and emotional support alongside academic development. DeshGujarat