IIT Kanpur Expands Mental Health Support with Mandatory Screening for New Students
In a significant move to address student mental health concerns, the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-Kanpur) has announced a major expansion of its mental health support services. The institute will now implement mandatory mental health screening for all new undergraduate and postgraduate students during their first week on campus.
Enhanced Professional Support System
The institute has substantially strengthened its Centre for Mental Health Wellbeing through the appointment of 10 full-time professional psychologists who are specifically trained to handle serious and complex mental health issues. Additionally, a clinical head who is a qualified psychiatrist has been appointed to lead all clinical activities at the Centre.
This clinical leadership is further supported by three empanelled psychiatrists to ensure continuity of care and specialized intervention when required. According to an official statement from IIT-Kanpur, this comprehensive professional team will provide structured, expert-led mental health services to the student community.
Proactive Screening and Intervention Protocol
As a preventive measure, all incoming students will undergo mental health screening during their initial campus orientation. Students identified as being at moderate or severe risk will be immediately contacted by trained counsellors for detailed assessment and early intervention.
The protocol includes:
- Detailed psychological assessment by qualified professionals
- Early intervention strategies tailored to individual needs
- Timely referral to psychiatrists when necessary
- Structured care plans from the beginning of the academic journey
Context of Recent Tragedies
This enhanced mental health initiative comes in the wake of recent tragic incidents at the institution. On Tuesday afternoon, a 25-year-old PhD scholar in the Department of Earth Sciences, identified as Ramswroop Ishram, died after allegedly jumping from the sixth floor of a residential building on campus. Police confirmed that no suicide note was recovered from the victim.
This marks the third incident of a student dying allegedly by suicide at IIT Kanpur in the past four months, according to senior police officials. These consecutive tragedies have prompted the institute to implement more robust preventive measures and support systems.
Comprehensive Campus-Wide Approach
Beyond individual screening and counselling, IIT Kanpur is implementing a multi-layered approach to mental health support:
- 24/7 Emergency Support System: The institute has established round-the-clock emergency mental health support through close coordination between the Centre for Mental Health Wellbeing and the Health Centre, ensuring immediate response during crises.
- Campus-Wide Sensitization: Regular workshops will be conducted for faculty, students, and all staff members including security personnel, SIS guards, medical staff, library employees, hall managers, mess teams, and cleaning staff to recognize student distress and respond appropriately.
- Peer Mentoring Program: Formalized peer mentoring has been established for both undergraduate and postgraduate students, where senior students actively support new entrants during their transition to campus life.
- Community Building Activities: Regular awareness programs, World Mental Health Day observances, festival celebrations, and events like run fests are organized to encourage connection, participation, and a sense of community among students.
National Context and Broader Initiatives
The issue of student mental health has gained national attention, with official data revealing that student suicides constituted 7.6 percent of all suicide cases reported across India in 2022. This shows a slight decrease from 8.0 percent in 2021 and 8.2 percent in 2020, according to data from the Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India (ADSI) report published by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
Union Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar shared these statistics in response to a written question in the Lok Sabha, highlighting the ongoing concern about student mental health nationwide.
Other premier institutions are also implementing similar measures. IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and IIT Guwahati have begun conducting workshops on stress management and resilience under the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme, indicating a growing recognition across India's educational ecosystem of the need for comprehensive mental health support systems.
IIT Kanpur's expanded mental health initiative represents a proactive, structured approach to addressing what has become a critical concern in higher education institutions across the country. By combining mandatory screening with enhanced professional support, campus-wide sensitization, and community-building activities, the institute aims to create a more supportive environment that prioritizes student well-being alongside academic excellence.
