UGC Mandates Psychologists in Colleges to Combat Student Suicides, Boost Mental Health

• UGC releases draft guidelines for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to establish 'Mental Health and Well-being Centers' and 'Monitoring Committees'.
• HEIs must appoint one mental health professional for every 100 students and operate a 24x7 helpline linked to the national mental health helpline.
• Guidelines follow a Supreme Court directive in the Sukhdev Saha vs. State of Andhra Pradesh (2025) case, aiming for a 'Uniform Policy on Mental Health and Well-being'.
• The policy emphasizes a proactive, preventive, and participatory approach, including awareness programs, peer support, and faculty training.
• Public feedback on the draft is invited until January 29, 2026; UGC will monitor compliance via a digital portal and annual reports.

Why It Matters: UGC's new guidelines mandate comprehensive mental health support and psychologists in all colleges to prevent student suicides.