Wellbeing in Early Schooling: From Gujarat’s Rules to the Supreme Court’s Checklist for Parents

Why this matters: Stress starts early

Studies show that mental health issues can appear even before adolescence. UNICEF’s data reveal that globally, one in seven adolescents experienced a mental disorder, with anxiety and depression making up about 40% of those disorders. Self‑harm is among the top causes of death for teens aged 15–19. Although these figures cover adolescents, they highlight a continuum that begins in early childhood: stress, bullying, and humiliating discipline can set the stage for later mental health problems. Yet many pre‑primary and primary schools in India still lack counsellors, proper grievance systems or policies to protect children’s emotional wellbeing.

The new move in Gujarat

On 19 September 2025, the Times of India reported that Gujarat’s Directorate of Primary Education issued a comprehensive set of guidelines to safeguard the mental and physical well-being of pre‑primary and primary students. Key elements include:

• Counsellors for larger schools: Schools with 100 or more students must appoint a qualified counsellor, psychologist, or social worker trained in child mental health. Smaller schools must coordinate with external mental health experts.

• No humiliating discipline: Teachers are instructed not to assign academic targets beyond a child’s capacity or make derogatory remarks that could humiliate students.

• Regular staff training: Teaching and non‑teaching staff must undergo at least two training sessions a yearfocusing on psychological first aid, warning signs of self‑harm and referral methods.

• Written protocols and confidential reporting: Schools must establish written protocols for accessing mental health services and local suicide‑prevention helplines and create confidential mechanisms to report bullying, ragging or sexual assault.

• Internal committees and accountability: Each school must set up an internal committee to handle complaints and provide psychosocial support; failure to act promptly can attract regulatory or legal action.

• Co‑curricular activities and safer infrastructure: The framework encourages schools to prioritise sports, arts and personality development, review exam systems to reduce stress and, for residential schools, install tamper‑proof fans and restrict access to rooftops and balconies.

Beyond Gujarat: National and global context

While Gujarat’s directive is one of the first state‑level attempts to codify mental‑health supports in pre‑primary and primary schooling, India’s Supreme Court recently issued national guidelines directing all educational institutions to appoint counsellors and adopt mental‑health policies to prevent student suicides.

In July 2025, the Supreme Court of India issued 15 nationwide guidelines mandating all educational institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, hostels, and coaching centers, to adopt a uniform mental health policy and appoint qualified counselors. Institutions with 100 or more students must hire at least one counsellor, psychologist, or social worker, while smaller institutions need to establish formal referral linkages with external mental health professionals. The guidelines also address safety measures, staff training, and a ban on harmful practices like public shaming, aiming to create a supportive environment and address the rise in student suicides.

What parents should check

When visiting or engaging with your child’s school, here are the questions every parent in India can now ask. Remember: These are no longer “nice-to-haves.” The Supreme Court has declared them binding until further legislation. Parents everywhere can and should ask these questions.

• Mental Health Policy: Does the school have a written mental health policy (inspired by UMMEED, MANODARPAN, or National Suicide Prevention Strategy) that is updated annually and publicly available?

• Counsellor Availability: If the school has 100+ students, is there at least one qualified counsellor, psychologist, or social worker on staff? For smaller schools, is there a formal referral link to external professionals?

• Support Ratios: Are students assigned dedicated mentors or counsellors, especially during exam seasons or transitions?

• No Shaming Practices: Does the school refrain from batch segregation, public shaming, or unrealistic academic targets?

• Emergency Protocols: Are there written referral protocols for accessing mental health services, local hospitals, and helplines (like Tele-MANAS)? Are helpline numbers displayed in classrooms and hostels?

• Teacher Training: Have teachers and non-teaching staff undergone mandatory mental health training at least twice this year?

• Inclusivity: Are staff sensitised to engage with marginalised students (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, LGBTQ+, students with disabilities, trauma survivors) in a sensitive, non-discriminatory way?

• Safe Reporting: Does the school have a confidential complaint mechanism and an internal committee for cases of bullying, harassment, or assault? Are whistle-blowers protected?

• Parent Involvement: Does the school organise mental-health sensitisation programmes for parents on avoiding pressure, recognising distress, and offering support?

• Transparency: Does the school publish an annual wellbeing report (training sessions, referrals, wellness interventions) to the regulatory authority?

• Balanced Learning: Are sports, arts, and personality development prioritised alongside academics? Are exams reviewed to reduce stress?

• Career Guidance: Is there regular, structured career counselling for students and parents, conducted by qualified counsellors?

• Residential Safety (if applicable): Do hostels maintain drug-free, bully-free spaces, install tamper-proof ceiling fans, and restrict access to rooftops or high-risk areas?

SchoolDoor’s view

Wellbeing isn’t a luxury, it’s foundational. Children deserve classrooms where they feel safe physically and emotionally. Gujarat’s guidelines show that governments can set standards, but implementation hinges on community involvement. Schools must embrace mental‑health professionals, foster respectful cultures and empower children to speak up without fear. Parents are partners in this change.

Take action

• Ask questions: Next time you visit your child’s school, ask about the counselor, the well-being policy, and confidential reporting.

• Observe interactions: Watch how teachers handle mistakes. Do they correct with kindness?

• Demand accountability: If your school hasn’t adopted a child‑protection code of conduct or doesn’t provide training, raise the issue with management and local education authorities.

• Use resources: Read the full guidelines here:

  • Supreme Court Guidelines to prevent student suicides

  • The Times of India report on Gujarat’s student well-being guidelines

  • Draft Gujarat State Child Protection Policy (April 2025)

  • UNICEF data on adolescent mental health

By staying informed and proactive, parents can help ensure that well-being starts in the earliest classrooms, creating schools where every child can thrive.