Gujarat Schools to Get Counsellors and Wellness Teams for Classes 9 to 12

The Gujarat government has introduced new rules to make mental health support mandatory in schools for Classes 9 to 12 students, which aim to reduce student stress, identify mental health problems early, and help prevent self-harm and suicide.

The provision is introduced under the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Regulations, 1974, which apply to Classes 9 to 12 in schools affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB).

Regulations have been made in accordance with the guidelines given by the Supreme Court on mental health and suicide prevention of students. The regulations have also referred to NCERT’s Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower and Develop (UMMEED) guidelines.

Indian school students attending a counselling session. (Image Credit: Google)

Every School to Have a School Wellness Team

All schools offering Classes 9 to 12 must form a School Wellness Team (SWT) at the beginning of every academic year. The team’s work will be reviewed annually.

The school principal will head the team, while a counsellor or designated teacher will act as its coordinator. Other members will include one teacher each from the secondary and higher secondary sections, a School Management Committee representative, a non-teaching staff member and two student peer leaders, called ‘Mano-Mitra’, representing the two sections.

Counsellors Mandatory in Big Schools

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

Schools with less than 100 students must establish formal arrangements to refer students to external mental health professionals, nearby Primary and Community Health Centres, the District Mental Health Programme or Tele-MANAS services.

Mano-Mitra to Offer Peer Support to Students

Under the Mano-Mitra initiative, two students will be selected as peer leaders to support their fellow students. They will offer emotional support, encourage students to seek help and connect them with teachers, counsellors or mental health professionals whenever needed.

However, Mano-Mitra peer leaders will not be expected to act as professional counsellors.

Indian schoolgirls taking part in an emotional wellbeing and first-aid workshop. (Image Credit: Google)

Counselling During Exams and Key Transitions

Under these regulations, schools will also provide mentoring or counselling during important times, including board examinations, result announcements, and transitions from Class 8th to 10th.

Schools will be prohibited from grouping or separating students based on their examination results or marks. They must also avoid publicly shaming students or comparing their performance with that of others, as such practices can cause emotional stress and unhealthy competition.

Schools to Take Steps to Promote Student Mental Wellbeing

Schools will be required to create a supportive environment that promotes equality, dignity, encouragement and cooperation among students. They will also organise activities such as yoga, meditation, art, music, gardening, dance and sports to support students' mental wellbeing.

Students must have safe and confidential ways to share their concerns with counsellors or designated teachers. Schools will also provide suggestion boxes, child helpline numbers and contact details of the School Wellness Team to make it easier for students to seek help.

The new regulations also require all teaching and non-teaching staff to undergo training by certified mental health professionals at least twice a year. The training will help them provide psychological first aid, identify early signs of mental distress, respond to cases of self-harm and connect students with appropriate support services.

Schools must take immediate action if a student shows signs of self-harm, suicidal thoughts or serious mental distress. They must also keep students' mental health information and counselling records confidential. Such details can only be shared with authorised individuals directly involved in the student's safety, treatment or welfare.

The regulations further state that schools will be held institutionally responsible if they fail to take timely and appropriate action despite being aware of a risk, and this failure significantly contributes to serious harm, self-harm or a student's suicide.

Indian school students attending a mental health counselling session with a doctor in a classroom (Image Credit: Google)

A district-level monitoring committee headed by the District Collector will oversee implementation, review complaints and serious incidents, and issue corrective measures. Schools must follow the committee's directions, according to the official release of the Government of India.