This Indian State made mental health support mandatory in schools, banned public shaming of students over low marks

Babushahi Bureau

Ahmedabad (Gujarat), November 2, 2026: In a significant move to address academic stress and emotional well-being among schoolchildren, the Gujarat government has introduced new mental health and wellness requirements for secondary and higher secondary schools, making counselling support, trained staff and student welfare mechanisms part of the school system.

The new provisions, applicable to students in Classes 9 to 12 in schools affiliated with the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB), amend the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Regulations, 1974.

Under the revised framework, schools with 100 or more students will have to appoint at least one qualified counsellor, psychologist or social worker with appropriate training in child and adolescent mental health. Schools with fewer than 100 students must establish links with external mental health professionals or nearby government health facilities to ensure that students can access assistance when required.

School Wellness Teams to monitor students’ well-being

Every school will be required to constitute a School Wellness Team at the beginning of the academic session. The team will be headed by the school principal and include a counsellor or designated teacher, representatives from the secondary and higher secondary sections, a school management committee member, a non-teaching employee and two students.

The team will be responsible for identifying signs of emotional distress, monitoring changes in students’ behaviour and facilitating timely intervention. Persistent sadness, social withdrawal, academic anxiety and sudden behavioural changes are among the concerns that schools will be expected to recognise.

The functioning of these teams will also be reviewed annually.

Two students to serve as ‘Mano-Mitra’

The framework also introduces the Mano-Mitra initiative, under which two students will be part of the School Wellness Team and help provide initial peer support.

The initiative aims to make it easier for children to share their concerns with fellow students when approaching teachers or parents feels difficult. Mano-Mitra volunteers will be expected to listen and encourage peers facing serious difficulties to approach the school counsellor or a mental health professional. They will not replace trained counsellors.

No public humiliation or segregation over examination results

In a particularly important provision, schools have been directed not to segregate students into groups based on their examination performance.

Students scoring fewer marks must not be publicly ridiculed, humiliated or compared unfavourably with their classmates. Schools will be expected to ensure that academic performance does not become a reason for discrimination or disrespect.

Additional counselling and guidance will be arranged during stressful academic transitions, including board examinations, declaration of results and movement from Class 8 to Class 9 and Class 10 to Class 11.

Teachers to receive mental health training twice a year

The responsibility of identifying students in distress will not rest solely with counsellors. Teachers and non-teaching staff will have to undergo mental health-related training at least twice a year, with inputs from mental health professionals.

The training will cover the identification of stress-related symptoms, warning signs of suicide risk and appropriate responses when a student experiences a mental health crisis.

In cases involving attempted self-harm or an immediate risk to life, schools will be required to ensure that the student is not left alone and receives prompt medical or emergency assistance.

Confidentiality of counselling records

The new provisions also seek to protect students’ privacy. Information shared during counselling and related mental health records must remain confidential and cannot be disclosed to unauthorised individuals.

Information may be shared only with those who need it for the student’s safety, treatment or care.

Schools to strengthen safeguards against bullying and discrimination

Schools will also be required to establish confidential mechanisms for receiving complaints concerning bullying, cyberbullying, ragging, physical violence, sexual harassment and discrimination.

Complaints involving discrimination based on caste, religion, language, gender, economic background or disability will also have to be addressed.

The provisions place responsibility on schools to respond to known risks and take timely steps to protect students. Negligence in dealing with serious concerns could invite disciplinary or legal action under applicable laws.

Yoga, sports and creative activities to be encouraged

Beyond counselling, the framework encourages schools to promote activities that support students’ emotional and physical well-being. These include yoga, meditation, sports, music, dance, painting and gardening.

Schools will also have to provide accessible complaint and suggestion boxes and display child helpline and School Wellness Team contact details at prominent locations.

Career guidance is another component of the framework, with schools expected to familiarise students with higher education, skill development, vocational training and entrepreneurship opportunities.

At the district level, a monitoring committee headed by the district collector will supervise the implementation of the provisions, examine serious incidents and complaints, and recommend corrective measures wherever necessary.

The framework reflects a broader shift in the approach towards school education, recognising that students’ welfare cannot be measured solely through examination results. By requiring schools to establish counselling arrangements, train staff and prevent the public humiliation of students over poor academic performance, Gujarat has sought to make emotional well-being an integral part of the educational environment.

Source: PTI