Mental Well-Being

1. Preamble

Mental well-being is an essential component of holistic education and academic excellence. Recognizing the increasing mental health challenges among students, faculty, and staff, the College commits itself to fostering a supportive, inclusive, and psychologically safe campus environment.

This policy is framed in alignment with national initiatives and guidelines issued by the Government of India, namely:

2. Policy Objectives

The objectives of this policy are to:

  1. Promote positive mental health and emotional well-being among students and staff.
  2. Prevent mental distress, self-harm, and suicidal behavior through early identification and support.
  3. Establish institutional mechanisms for counseling, referral, and crisis intervention.
  4. Reduce stigma associated with mental health issues.
  5. Align college practices with national mental health and suicide prevention frameworks.

3. Guiding Frameworks

3.1 UMMEED Guidelines

The policy adopts the UMMEED approach (Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathize, Empower, Develop) to:

  • Identify early warning signs of emotional distress.
  • Strengthen teacher–student engagement.
  • Build institutional capacity for mental health promotion.

 

3.2 MANODARPAN Initiative

MANODARPAN principles guide:

  • Psychosocial support services.
  • Life-skills education and stress management.
  • Awareness programs for students, teachers, and parents.

3.3 Tele MANAS

Tele MANAS is recognized as a 24×7 national mental health support system and shall be integrated into the college’s referral and emergency support mechanism.

3.4 National Suicide Prevention Strategy (NSPS)

This policy aligns with NSPS goals of:

  • Reducing suicide mortality.
  • Strengthening institutional capacity.
  • Promoting mental well-being through education and community engagement.

4. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to:

  • All undergraduate and postgraduate students
  • Teaching faculty
  • Non-teaching and administrative staff

5. Institutional Structure

5.1 College Mental Well-Being Committee (CMWC)

The College shall constitute a Mental Well-Being Committee, comprising

Sr.no Name Designation Mobile no. Email ID
1 Dr.G.P.Gadekar Chairman 9923454912 gunwantpgadekar1975@gmail.com
2 Dr.K.M. Hatzade Member 9421715850 kishorhatzade@gmail.com
3 Ms.Vina Gautam Member 9594352259 vina.vina.gtm@gmail.com
4 Prof. A.D. Wasnik Member secretary 8459983419 adwasnik55@gmail.com
5 Professional Counselor/Psychologist
6 Medical Officer
7 Student Representatives

 

6. Preventive and Promotional Measures

  1. Orientation Programs on mental health for first-year students.
  2. Awareness programs, seminars, and workshops on stress management, resilience, and emotional well-being.
  3. Life-skills education including coping strategies, time management, and emotional regulation.
  4. Promotion of peer support groups and mentoring systems.
  5. Creation of a safe, inclusive, and non-discriminatory campus environment.

7. Counseling and Support Services

  1. Availability of confidential counseling support within the institution or through external professionals.
  2. Clear referral pathways to mental health professionals and hospitals.
  3. Display of Tele MANAS Helpline (14416 / 1-800-891-4416) on notice boards, websites, hostels, and common areas.
  4. Ensuring privacy, dignity, and confidentiality of individuals seeking support.

8. Identification and Early Intervention

  1. Faculty and staff shall be encouraged to identify early warning signs such as:
    • Persistent sadness or withdrawal
    • Academic decline
    • Behavioral changes
    • Expressions of hopelessness
  1. Training programs shall be organized for teachers and staff based on UMMEED guidelines.
  2. Students at risk shall be supported, not penalized.

9. Crisis Management and Suicide Prevention Protocol

  1. Immediate response to crisis situations with sensitivity and urgency.
  2. Activation of Tele MANAS or referral to nearest medical facility when required.
  3. Informing appropriate authorities and family members in a responsible and confidential manner.
  4. Post-crisis follow-up and continued emotional support.

10. Capacity Building and Training

  1. Regular training programs for faculty, staff, and student leaders on mental health first aid.
  2. Collaboration with government agencies, NGOs, and mental health professionals.
  3. Participation in national initiatives such as MANODARPAN webinars and programs.

11. Monitoring and Review

  1. The Mental Well-Being Committee shall meet at least twice a year.
  2. Periodic review of activities, effectiveness, and challenges.
  3. Policy updates in accordance with government guidelines and institutional needs.

12. Commitment Statement

The College affirms its commitment to:

  • Upholding mental well-being as a core institutional value.
  • Creating a compassionate and supportive learning environment.
  • Implementing national mental health and suicide prevention strategies responsibly.

13. References

  1. UMMEED Guidelines, NCERT, Ministry of Education, Government of India
  2. MANODARPAN Initiative, Ministry of Education, Government of India
  3. Tele MANAS – National Tele Mental Health Programme, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
  4. National Suicide Prevention Strategy (2021), Government of India