Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 11: The objective of the UMMEED (Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, Develop) guidelines is to raise awareness among the school stakeholders about suicide, dispelling myths, understanding risk factors, and identifying warning signs in at-risk students.
This information was shared by Annpurna Devi, Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, in reply to a question of MP from Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal, in Lok Sabha today.
The MP had sought a reply on the objective of the UMMEED guidelines.
“The UMMEED guidelines aimed at raising awareness among school stakeholders about suicide, dispelling myths, understanding risk factors, and identifying warning signs in at-risk students,” replied Annpurna Devi, the Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Education.
Devi further emphasized the core belief that “every child matters” and highlighted key aspects, including providing school guidance for handling cases of self-harm or attempted suicides.
She said the guidelines encourage collaborative efforts among schools, students, parents, and communities to formulate and implement effective suicide prevention strategies.
The MP Ladakh, Jamyang Tsering Namgyal had also inquired about the Government’s initiative in supporting students’ mental health, particularly those preparing for competitive exams.
In response, the Minister Annpurna Devi detailed the “Manodarpan” initiative under the “Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan.” She said, this initiative includes a national toll-free helpline, live interactive counselling sessions called “Sahyog,” dissemination of advocacy materials, and a directory of counsellors available on the Manodarpan webpage as a resource for students.
In reply to another question of the MP, the Minister clarified that the Ministry does not maintain city and district-wise data on student suicides.
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