Faced by suicides among students, several IITs are taking different measures to address concerns over their mental health.Perumal Alagarsamy, the dean of student affairs at IIT-Guwahati, is spearheading the mental wellbeing initiatives on campus.”We have decided that for the first week, when the freshers arrive on campus, there will be no classes but an acclimatisation programme so they do not feel out of place.The students will be invited for morning walks with faculty members so they are able to build a rapport with each other before entering the classroom,” Alagarsamy told PTI.”The Peer Mentorship Programne aligns with this notion by assigning peer mentors to the new students. These mentors (will) play a pivotal role in providing relevant information, clearing doubts, and assisting with various challenges, serving as guiding lights for the newcomers when they feel lost,” he added.As soon as the freshers arrive on campus, an ice-breaking session will be conducted to establish a warm and inclusive atmosphere and facilitate connections, Alagarsamy explained.”These sessions aim to raise awareness about mental health and overall wellbeing while acquainting the students with the resources and the support available through the Counselling Cell and the Center for Holistic Wellbeing,” he said.”These ice-breaking sessions will be conducted within each hostel to help expand the students’ social networks, enabling them to connect with their peers through enjoyable games and activities,” he added.
Source link
