SC-constituted task force to engage with panels over mental health of students

The National Task Force (NTF) constituted by the Supreme Court last year to address the rising incidence of student suicides and to examine mental health of students in higher educational institutions across the country is analysing nationwide survey data it has collected in the last months and is also mulling to engage with earlier committees that examined similar issues.

With the objective of creating safe, equitable, inclusive and conducive spaces of learning in higher education campuses within a universal design framework for student well-being, the, Supreme Court on January 15 requested the NTF to carry out additional tasks, including but not limited to creation of model standard operating procedures (SOP) for periodic well-being audits in higher educational institutions and creation of model SOP for mental health services and faculty sensitisation and training.

The apex Court has further expanded the tenure of the NTF, originally constituted in March 2025, till June 30 in order to provide sufficient time to undertake these actions.

The NTF launched five nationwide online surveys in August 2025, targeting students, faculty, parents, mental health service providers and the general public. All Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) were also mandated to submit institutional data through a separate survey. The surveys closed in December 2025.

The NTF has conducted field visits to 29 higher educational institutions across nine States, enabling deeper engagement with regional and institutional contexts.

In November–December 2025, meetings were held with State Nodal Officers to understand local challenges, best practices, and systemic gaps. The NTF also engaged with regulatory bodies, including the National Medical Commission (NMC), AICTE, Indian Nursing Council, and Dental Council of India to address concerns and encourage institutional participation.

The task force has conducted 14 stakeholder consultations involving marginalised social groups, medical students and residents, mental health experts and administrative and police authorities from various states.

These consultations examined student distress in relation to academic pressure, discrimination, social exclusion, and institutional shortcomings.

The NTF has held discussions with the State Crime Records Bureau and the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) to explore improvements in suicide data collection and analysis to better understand student suicide data.