iit student mental issues: IIT Guwahati makes one-to-one mental well-being counselling mandatory for fresh BTech students

Recognizing the intense competition and challenges faced by students and ensure the mental well-being of its newly enrolled BTech students, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT-G) has introduced mandatory counselling sessions of its newly enrolled BTech students. The counselling sessions are expected to be completed within the next three months.

As per a ToI report, IIT-G has engaged a team of four counsellors and two psychiatrists to provide essential mental support to the students. This year, the institute welcomed 957 BTech students through JEE Advanced 2023, including 20.4% (196) girls.

“It’s going to be an interaction with counsellors first and wherever required, if the counsellors feel, some of the students will also get the help of psychiatrists. The programme is one-to-one counselling and focused on ensuring mental well-being of the students,” Prof. Anamika, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, told TOI.

IIT-G aims to identify and address potential mental health concerns at an early stage, preventing more severe issues and enhancing overall student support. While past incidents in IITs have highlighted the critical nature of mental health awareness, IIT-G’s initiative reflects a proactive approach toward safeguarding its students’ mental health.

Previously, group counselling sessions were conducted, but individual students often hesitated to openly share their challenges. The shift to one-on-one interactions intends to create a more comfortable and confidential environment for students to discuss their concerns.

The counselling support will be available on all working days from 9 am to 8 pm, providing students with flexible opportunities to seek assistance outside of their class hours. Additionally, ice-breaking sessions, presided over by student counsellors at the Centre for Holistic Wellbeing, have been organized at the hostel level to foster interaction and support among freshers.