NIMHANS Reaches 420-Plus Karnataka Government Colleges With Mental Health Drive
NIMHANS and the Department of Collegiate Education held orientation programmes in over 420 government first grade colleges in Karnataka, with more than 800 principals taking part.
The Department of Collegiate Education, working with the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) and regional partner institutions, has taken its student mental health outreach to more than 420 Government First Grade Colleges across Karnataka.
Over 800 principals joined the one-day orientation programmes, which were designed to build awareness of mental health policy and the institutional role in preventing student suicides, in line with Supreme Court guidelines. Participants were trained to recognise and respond to mental health concerns among students and to strengthen support systems within their institutions.
The sessions also covered suicide prevention, mental health promotion, tele-support services and the use of digital mental health resources.
The drive was delivered as three regional sessions. The first, titled "Abhaya", was held at the NIMHANS Convention Centre in Bengaluru on August 11 with Government Arts College, Hassan, as a partner. Students from colleges in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Shivamogga and Mangaluru attended.
The second session, "Beluguthirali Baduku", took place in Kalaburgi on September 2, drawing students and principals from Ballari and other districts. The concluding session, "Jeevanapreeti – Baalige Spoorthi", was held in Dharwad on September 7, bringing together participants from Hubballi, Haveri, Gadag and nearby districts.
NIMHANS experts at the sessions addressed myths and facts around mental health, the development of institutional support systems, and the part that institutional leaders and faculty play in creating a supportive educational environment.