IIT Delhi expert Committee to Boost Student Mental Health and Well-being

Student mental health and well-being focus on supporting learners through stress management, counseling, and awareness initiatives to foster a healthy, inclusive, and balanced academic environment.

Table of Contents

Context: IIT Delhi has constituted a committee of experts to promote student mental health and well-being with the goal of building a nurturing campus culture through policy changes, counselling, awareness programs, and peer support networks.

IIT Delhi Forms Committee to Assess Students’ Mental Health

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi has set up an expert committee to tackle and improve student mental health and well-being on campus. This move is indicative of the institute’s dedication to creating a harmonious and inclusive environment for its students.

Composition of the Committee

The committee includes external mental health practitioners, internal faculty, and alumni to ensure a holistic examination of mental health problems.

Identified Challenges

The committee has also identified some of the reasons for student stress and mental health problems, including:

An overly competitive academic culture.
Pressures created by the entrance examination system and coaching culture.
Social biases based on caste, gender, and other social categorizations.

Recommendations and Actions

Following the committee’s recommendations and a student-initiated review of available counseling services, IIT Delhi is developing a comprehensive action plan to enhance student support systems. The report of the committee has been placed before faculty and Deans’ meetings to sensitize staff to these matters. The report will also be submitted to the Board of Governors of the Institute for further action.

Collaborative Initiatives

Acknowledging that many of these challenges are institutional within educational institutions in India, IIT Delhi is also focused on cooperating with other stakeholders, such as the other IITs, to deal with problems on a larger scale, like reforms in entrance examinations such as the JEE.

Student Mental Health and Well-being

Student Mental Health and Well-being is a growing concern in schools across the globe, including India, since academic stress, social pressures, and individual problems have a direct bearing on the psychological well-being of students.

Key Aspects of Student Mental Health and Well-being

Common Challenges

Academic Stress: Examinations, grades, and competition induce excessive stress.
Social Issues: Bullying, peer pressure, loneliness, or identity crisis.
Mental Illnesses: Anxiety, depression, burnout, and sleep disorders.
Family and Financial Crisis: Personal concerns beyond the campus.

Signs of Poor Mental Health

Drop in academic performance
Mood swings or withdrawal from activities
Lack of sleep or appetite
Difficulty concentrating
Expressions of hopelessness

Support Strategies

On-campus counseling centers
Peer support programs
Mental health awareness workshops
Faculty training to identify students in distress
Flexible academic policies and stress-relief initiatives

Importance of Promoting Mental Health

Enhances focus, learning, and creativity
Reduces dropout rates
Builds resilience and life skills
Improves overall well-being and success

Initiatives in India

UGC guidelines on student mental health support
IITs, IIMs, and other institutions set up mental health cells and expert committees
Platforms like MANODARPAN by the Ministry of Education offer psychological support