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UPTU move to check depression in students
BETTER LATE than never. Finally, the Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU) has issued a ?suggestive? letter to all the technical institutes affiliated with it to check the growing cases of depression among students of higher educational institutes.
BETTER LATE than never. Finally, the Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU) has issued a “suggestive” letter to all the technical institutes affiliated with it to check the growing cases of depression among students of higher educational institutes.
The letter was received at the institutes here on May 16 . The letter suggested to the heads of the institutions that in order to have close interaction with each student, they should set up a student care cell, keep watch on friendly relations between boys and girls and finally, keep informing the parents of the students who were found victims of abnormal behaviour. The letter suggested that intimate relationship between boys and girls should be under scanner all the time and meeting each other for long durations be discouraged.
The letter further said that the services of professional psychologists and psychiatrists be availed of for understanding the problems of the students.
Dwelling upon the duties of the students cell, the letter suggested that the cell members should ensure that the students did not use medicines which were not prescribed by a physician and did not take frequent meals out of the hostel mess.
It would be the duty of the cell to see that none of the students was depressed which isolated him from others or he was not in a confused state of mind due to study problems. The cell would also be held responsible for ensuring that none of the students avoided the required amount of night-rest on any pretext. If any of the students was found weak in studies, the cell members should help him to cope with this problem.
Students found absent from class for several days should be asked to explain the reason of their absence and a strict watch be maintained upon them, the letter said. In addition to corrective measures, the letter also advised the heads of the institutions that they should arrange regular talks by clerics and yoga should also be taught to them.
Practical problem for institutes
THE DIRECTIVES of the UPTU with regard to eliminating possibilities of depression-led suicidal tendency among students in technical institutes has posed certain practical problems before the managements of these institutions.
Though there are counselling cells in almost every institution to guide the students in times of depression, most of them lack student care cells to give closer attention to each students.
According to the Deputy Registrar (Academic) in HBTI Dr AK Shukla, the counselling services are offered to the students by their teachers. About 20 students are placed under a teacher who interacts with them frequently and tries to keep them stress-free.
Director of College of Management Studies Professor Mazhar Abbas Naqvi said that there was a homely atmosphere at the institute. Students had easy access to faculty members. The institute offered profession-oriented personalised counselling to students.
