'Have 10 psychologists,' says IIT Kanpur after second student suicide in a month

A day after a PhD scholar at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) allegedly died by suicide, the engineering institute formed a series of measures aimed at improving students well-being and mental health.

The statement comes amid an ongoing investigation by a National Task Force (NTF), constituted by the Supreme Court on the increasing suicide rates in higher educational institutions.

Yesterday, Ramswaroop Ishram, PhD scholar at IIT Kanpur jumped off the sixth floor of a building on campus. The institute stated that the death is being treated as suicide. Ishram was undergoing counselling and had anxiety. He lived with his wife and children. This was the second suicide death reported at IIT Kanpur in a month.

The institute, in an official statement, said that it has appointed ten full time professional psychologists to manage serious and complex mental health concerns.

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Mental health screening for freshers

Backing its stand on supporting student community and encouraging them to put their well-being first, the institute said: “A clinical head who is a psychiatrist has been appointed to lead all clinical activities at the Centre for Mental Health, supported by three empanelled psychiatrists to ensure continuity of care and specialised intervention when required.”

The institute further said that its all new undergraduate and postgraduate students undergo a mental health screening during their first week on campus.

Those identified as being at moderate or severe risk are proactively contacted by trained counsellors for detailed assessment, early intervention and referral to psychiatrists when necessary, the institute added.

“Regular sensitisation workshops are being conducted for faculty, students and staff across the institute. These sessions also include security personnel, SIS guards, doctors, paramedics, library staff, hall managers, mess teams and cleaning staff, ensuring that everyone who interacts with students is equipped to recognise distress and respond appropriately,” according to the official statement.

Moreover, the engineering college has also established a 24x7 emergency mental health support system through close coordination between the Centre for Mental Health Wellbeing and the Health Centre.

Peer mentoring has also been formed for students where seniors actively support new entrants as they transition into campus life, the institute said.