Amid a period marked by a series of suicides among students preparing for competitive exams in Kota, Rajasthan, known as India’s hub for test preparation, the Union Ministry of Education (MoE) issued draft guidelines to prevent student suicides. Released on Tuesday, the guidelines outline a “plan of action” which includes establishing wellness teams, providing training for teachers and family members, and responding promptly to students displaying warning signs. Named UMMEED, an acronym for Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathize, Empower, and Develop, these guidelines are designed to act as instructions for schools to improve sensitivity, comprehension, and support when it comes to reported incidents of self-harm.
Recognizing that the causes of suicide are multifaceted and vary from person to person, the draft document emphasised the significance of understanding that suicide can sometimes be a spontaneous act triggered by immediate events that induce extreme stress. This comes just days after the Rajasthan government issued guidelines to curb student suicides in coaching institutes, citing six major reasons that compel suicide.
What Do the Numbers Say?
Annually, more than 2.5 lakh students flock to Kota to undergo preparations for competitive exams like the Joint Entrance Exam (JEE) for engineering and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical school admissions, according to a report by Indian Express.
In response to the unprecedented rise in student suicide cases – 28 just this year – the authorities have implemented several measures, including the installation of anti-hanging devices in ceiling fans and instructing coaching institutes to suspend exams for a two-month period.
The Kota Hostel Association has been advocating for the installation of anti-hanging devices since 2017, and this year, the District Administration has finally enforced this safety measure.
However, the need for setting up a system for strengthening the minds of these students is the need of the hour.
Breakdown of the Guidelines
The draft guidelines categorized warning signs into three groups: emotions, conduct, and behaviours. Students showing hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, guilt, and shame, along with symptoms like decreased concentration, social withdrawal, and sudden mood fluctuations, are considered at risk. Additionally, students displaying reckless behaviour, discussing self-harm or suicidal thoughts, and becoming emotionally detached, among other signs, are also considered to exhibit warning signs.
The wellness teams are to engage with the identified students, urging them to open up and speak with counsellors. The guidelines state that a School Wellness Team, led by the school principal, can be established. Each member of this team is trained to handle crisis situations. If a student exhibiting warning signs is identified, they should be reported to the School Wellness Team, which will then take prompt action.
Counsellors, in turn, would conduct counselling sessions with these students. The guidelines advise the team to maintain records of these students and continue to provide follow-up support.
Highlighting the significance of strengthening the abilities of various stakeholders, including teachers, school personnel, students, students’ families, and other parties involved, the guidelines emphasized that a crucial measure in this endeavour is to improve their understanding and proficiency in identifying warning signs, offering assistance, and swiftly responding to students who may be at risk.
It has also suggested strategies for effective implementation to reduce suicides. The draft guidelines emphasize the importance of increasing knowledge, promoting peer support, organizing regular stress-relief activities, offering channels for emotional expression, compiling resources for seeking help, integrating mental well-being into school operations, and ensuring a safe environment within and outside of schools, including vigilance at locations such as railway tracks, river banks, bridges, cliffs, and medical shops.
The guidelines are in perfect harmony with the holistic education vision outlined in the NEP (National Education Policy). “They emphasize not only academic excellence, but also the emotional well-being of our students,” Jyoti Arora, principal of Mount Abu Public School in New Delhi, told Hindustan Times.
