Bhopal, January 30, 2026:
The Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education), Anupam Rajan, has directed all educational institutions to mandatorily display mental health helpline numbers on campus and strictly comply with the Supreme Court’s guidelines related to student mental health and suicide prevention.
The directive was issued during a state-level awareness seminar on student mental health and suicide prevention, organised by the Higher Education Department on Friday at Vallabh Bhavan-3, Bhopal. The seminar was held in line with Supreme Court directions and the recommendations of the National Task Force.
The event was attended by registrars and principals of government and private universities and colleges from Bhopal district, along with senior officials from stakeholder departments including School Education, Technical Education, Medical Education, Health, Women and Child Development, Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Urban Administration, Panchayat and Rural Development, Tribal Welfare, Police, Public Relations, the Madhya Pradesh Private Universities Regulatory Commission, and the National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation, Sehore.
Mandatory Display of Mental Health Helpline Numbers
Addressing the seminar, ACS Anupam Rajan instructed that Tele MANAS (14416), UMANG Helpline (14425) and the emergency number 112 must be prominently displayed on the walls and common areas of all educational institutions. This, he said, would ensure timely access to mental health support for students in distress.
He emphasised the need for regular awareness activities within institutions to sensitise students about mental health issues and available support systems. Rajan also made it mandatory for institutions to immediately inform the police in the event of any student suicide or unnatural death, irrespective of whether the incident occurs inside or outside the campus. Such cases must also be included in annual reports submitted to the University Grants Commission (UGC) and other regulatory bodies.
24×7 Emergency Medical Facilities in Residential Institutions
The Additional Chief Secretary further directed that all residential educational institutions must ensure 24×7 emergency medical facilities, either on campus or within a one-kilometre radius. He also instructed institutions to fill long-pending teaching and non-teaching vacancies within four months, with priority given to posts reserved for disadvantaged categories.
Addressing student welfare concerns, Rajan said that all pending scholarships must be resolved in a time-bound manner. No student should be denied examinations, classes, hostel facilities or issuance of degrees and marksheets due to delays in scholarship disbursal.
Strict Implementation of UGC Regulations
Institutions were also directed to strictly implement all mandatory UGC regulations, particularly those related to anti-ragging mechanisms, Equal Opportunity Cells, Internal Complaints Committees, and student grievance redressal systems, to ensure a safe, inclusive and supportive academic environment.
The seminar underscored the state government’s commitment to strengthening mental health support systems in educational institutions and ensuring student well-being through coordinated administrative action and strict regulatory compliance.
