About the study
Funded and led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the project is implemented in Kerala by Government Medical College, Kollam and covers Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts.
Part of the ICMR Multistate Implementation Research Study on Suicide Risk Reduction & Improving Mental Well-being among School and College Students
India has one of the highest burdens of youth suicide in the world, and students face growing academic, social, and family pressures with limited access to timely mental health support.
The ICMR-funded and ICMR-led Student Wellbeing Project is implemented in Kerala by Government Medical College, Kollam. The Kerala site works with schools, colleges, and communities in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts to build and test a practical, ground-tested model that helps educational institutions recognize distress early, respond effectively, and connect students to care.
The project is part of a larger study across eight states and union territories. The approach is grounded in WHO's youth suicide prevention guidance and India's national UMMEED framework, and is being developed and refined in partnership with the very schools, colleges, teachers, and students it aims to support.
What We're Building — Four Pillars
- 1. Leadership Engagement
Working with principals and administrators to build clear, workable protocols for identifying and supporting students at risk — so no institution is caught without a plan.
- 2. Gatekeeper Training for Teachers
Equipping teachers, wardens, and counselors with practical skills to notice warning signs, respond with confidence, and refer students to the right support — followed by ongoing refresher sessions.
- 3. Youth Champions & Peer Support
Training student volunteers to lead awareness campaigns on their own campuses and offer a first, trusted point of support to peers who may be struggling.
- 4. Self-Help Resources
Making booklets, videos, and app-based tools on mental well-being freely available in libraries, hostels, and wellness centers — so students have somewhere to turn on their own terms.
Where we work
The ICMR Student Wellbeing Project is funded and led by ICMR. Government Medical College, Kollam is the implementing institute for the Kerala site, covering institutions in Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts.
The ICMR Student Wellbeing Project spans Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Rajasthan — reaching schools and colleges in urban and rural districts alike.
Project leadership and implementation
Funded and led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)
Implemented in Kerala by Government Medical College, Kollam
Entries are collected through Google Forms managed by the project team. Personal details are used only to run the competitions and are not shared outside the organising team.