NTF to look into SOPs for mental health aid
NEW DELHI: The SC-appointed National Task Force on student mental health and suicide prevention in Higher Educational Institutions will analyse nationwide survey data running into millions to draft a Standard Operating Procedure for mental health services across the country.
The task force, constituted in March 2025 to address rising student suicides and recommend systemic reforms, has been granted an extension by the apex court till June 30 in its January 15 judgment. A member of the task force, who did not want to be named, said it would also create model SOPs for periodic well-being audits in HEIs and for faculty sensitisation and training.
“In its January 15 judgment, the Supreme Court has tasked the NTF with some additional tasks of creating model SOPs for mental health services, suicide prevention, faculty sensitisation, audits, etc., and the task force will also be working on that,” the member said.
The aim is to create safe, equitable, inclusive, and conducive learning spaces, and to develop a unified national framework for suicide prevention and student welfare. The member said the nationwide online surveys seeking suggestions had closed, and data analysis would now begin. “As you can understand, it’s an extensive data set with millions of responses,” the member added.
The task force conducted a nationwide survey last year and launched five online surveys in August 2025 for students, faculty members, parents, mental health professionals, and the general public. All HEIs were also mandated to submit institutional data through a separate survey.
The surveys closed in December 2025. In all, 12.88 lakh students participated, along with 1.6 lakh faculty members, 2.26 lakh parents, 6,800 mental health professionals, 2,25,460 members of the general public, and 16,750 HEIs.
Responses were received from states and UTs. Meets were held with State Nodal Officers in November and December 2025 on local challenges, best practices, and gaps. The task force engaged with regulatory bodies, and conducted field visits to 29 HEIs in nine states.
Annual data sought
On January 15, the SC issued directions after the interim report submitted by the task force. The SC also passed directions on data collection, reporting and filing of annual reports on suicides and unnatural deaths of students to the University Grants Commission.