Lok Sabha Question No. 1164 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-11
Subject: Objective and Vision of UMMEED Guidelines
Ministry: Education
Asked by: Mohanbhai Kalyanji Kundariya, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, Dipsinh Shankarsinh Rathod, Rajendra Agrawal, Sunil Kumar Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1164 ANSWERED ON-11/12/2023

## Objective and Vision of UMMEED Guidelines

1164. SHRI MOHANBHAI KALYANJI KUNDARIYA:

SHRI JAMYANG TSERING NAMGYAL:

SHRI DIPSINH SHANKARSINH RATHOD:

SHRI RAJENDRA AGRAWAL:

SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the draft for Understand, Motivate, Mange, Empathise, Empower, Develop (UMMEED) guidelines and its objectives and vision;
- (b) whether the Government is taking any additional steps to ensure mental health support to the students preparing for the competitive examinations;
- (c) the details of the number of students committed suicide across the country and especially in Kota in 2023; and
- (d) the steps taken by Government to mitigate the suicide attempts by the students across the country and to sensitize and create awareness for suicide prevention?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(SMT. ANNPURNA DEVI)

(a) : The draft UMMEED (Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower and Develop): Prevention of Suicide -Guidelines for Schools, 2023, provide an understanding for all stakeholders of school system about suicide, associated myths and facts, risk and protective factors and warning signs for identifying students atrisk. 'Every Child Matters' is the underlying belief in developing these Guidelines. With this vision, the document is developed with focus on:

-  Providing directions to schools for enhancing sensitivity, understanding and to provide support in case of self-harm or attempted suicide by students.
-  Encouraging nurturing of partnerships between all stakeholdersschool, students, parents and community towards developing and implementing clear strategies for prevention of suicide.
-  Providing a comprehensive action plan for prevention of suicide in schools.

(b) to (d): Ministry of Education (MoE), has launched an initiative, Manodarpan, under 'AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan', with the aim to provide psychosocial support to students, their families and teachers across the country, for mental health and well-being during the times of COVID-19 and beyond. All activities undertaken under the Manodarpan initiative are aimed towards supporting the metal health and wellbeing of students from schools, colleges and universities, including those students who are preparing for competitive examinations. Some of the activities primarily focused on reaching out to students are:

-  A National toll-free tele-helpline (844-844-0632) for reaching out to students from schools, colleges and universities across the country seeking support on mental health concerns and other psychosocial issues.
-  Live interactive sessions 'Sahyog' are organized for students on PM e-vidya channels, with practicing counsellors and are held from Monday to Friday (from 05:00 pm- 05:30 pm) across different regions. These sessions can be viewed on PM e-Vidya Channels and 'NCERT Official' YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@NCERTOFFICIAL/streams).
-  Advocacy materials (flyers, posters, calendar, etc.) on mental health and emotional well-being and about Manodarpan services are developed and widely disseminated among students as well as other stakeholders.
-  Directory of Counsellors working at both School and College/University level is available on the Manodarpan webpage (https://manodarpan.education.gov.in) as a resource for students.

The data regarding the number of students suicides city/district wise is not maintained in this Ministry.

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