Keeping in mind of Mental Health & well-being of students during this lockdown period, The University Grants Commission (UGC) has released a letter directing all universities and colleges to set up mental health helpline numbers. The UGC has given this instruction to address the psychological concerns of the students during the on-going lockdown to prevent Coronavirus.

The official letter states that:
During the lockdown period, it is important to address any kind of mental health and psychosocial concerns of the students.
UGC has directed:
  • Set up helplines for mental health, psychosocial concerns and well-being of students in universities/ colleges. To be regularly monitored and managed by counselors and other identified faculty members.
     
  • Regular mentoring of students through interactions, and appeals/ letters by the universities/colleges to remain calm and stress-free. This can be achieved through telephones, emails, digital and social media platforms.
     
  • Form COVID-19 help groups of students, headed by hostel wardens/ senior faculty who can identify friends/ classmates in need of help and provide the immediate necessary help.
     
  • Share the video links of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare on your University/ College website and with students and faculty via email through social media like Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter, and more platforms.
     
  • The implementations of these measures may be regularly monitored and actions taken in this regard may be submitted on the University Activity Monitoring Portal of UGC at ugc.ac.in/uamp