In a landmark initiative for higher education in India, IIT Roorkee has initiated the drafting of a comprehensive mental health policy, setting a precedent for all IITs. The first draft of the policy was prepared by the Wellness Centre, a mental health care facility for the community, with the collective expertise of the Dean of Student Welfare, Associate Dean of Student Wellness, Mental Health Professionals (Clinical Psychologists at IIT Roorkee), External Advisors and Faculty members.
The initiative was further strengthened through “SAHYOG 2.0,” a focused inter-IIT discussion aimed at seeking & sharing inputs from fellow IITs to contribute meaningfully to the mental health policy framework of IIT community. The objective of this dialogue was to learn from existing policies, protocols, and governance mechanisms followed across IITs, and to incorporate relevant insights into a comprehensive, inclusive, and student as well as IIT community-centric policy.
SAHYOG 2.0 builds upon the success of SAHYOG 1.0, held in 2024, and aligns with the recent directives of the Supreme Court of India and the University Grants Commission (UGC), emphasizing the critical role of higher education institutions in mental health governance. Discussions at the event covered:
- Institutional approaches to mental health governance and policy formulation
- Preventive, promotive, and responsive mental health interventions
- The role of Wellness Centres, Counselling Cells, and Student Welfare structures in policy implementation
- Role of Mental Health Professionals and facilitation of the services provided to them
- Standardization and alignment of mental health policies across IITs
- Formulation of standard operating procedures for crisis situations
The collaborative sessions not only enabled cross-institutional learning but also emphasized the need for a policy that is student-centric, inclusive, and practical, ensuring the mental well-being of the entire IIT community.
Speaking about the initiative, Prof K.K Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, said, “Mental health and well-being have emerged as critical pillars of excellence in higher education, and initiatives such as SAHYOG 2.0 reflect our collective recognition of this responsibility.”
The institute welcomed delegates, including Deans, faculty members, and mental health professionals from all IITs, alongside renowned external advisors from institutions such as AIIMS Rishikesh, GMCH Chandigarh, IHBAS, KGMU, TISS, IOP Kolkata, OP Jindal, Mariwala Health Initiative and Delhi University, UPSIFS as well as distinguished officials, a Supreme Court Advocate, and an Anthropologist, highlighting the significance of the event in shaping a uniform mental health policy across the IIT system.
This pioneering policy initiative may become a transformative step in advancing structured mental health governance across India’s premier educational institutions.
