Kanpur, 15 March, 2024: The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK) unveiled significant steps to enhance student welfare initiatives, with a focus on prioritizing mental health and well-being within the campus community. Among the many initiatives, the Institute Counselling Service of IIT Kanpur organized a ‘Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training’ in collaboration with professionals from the Suicide Prevention India Foundation (SPIF) on March 13th and 14th. This training was aimed at equipping its community members with vital skills to support individuals in crisis situations.

The event saw active participation from 110 selected individuals, including faculty, staff, hall managers, doctors, nurses, security personnel, and students. The program highlighted the importance of identifying warning signs, intervening effectively, and connecting individuals with necessary resources. The training sessions, featuring interactive workshops and practical exercises, providing participants with valuable insights into suicide prevention strategies and the significance of offering empathetic support.

IIT Kanpur is committed to promote a supportive, inclusive, and academically empowering environment that prioritizes the mental and emotional well-being of every individual in the institute community. By emphasizing mental health initiatives such as the Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Training, IIT Kanpur is nurturing a compassionate community where every individual feels valued and empowered to seek help when needed.

For more information about the Institute Counselling Service and other mental health initiatives at IIT Kanpur, please visit https://www.iitk.ac.in/counsel/

About IIT Kanpur:

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur was established in 1959 and declared to be an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. IIT Kanpur is best known for the highest standard of education in science and engineering and for seminal R&D contributions over the years. The institute has a sprawling lush green campus spread over 1055 acres with a large pool of academic and research resources spanning across 19 departments, 25 centres and 3 interdisciplinary programs in engineering, science, design, humanities, and management disciplines with more than 570 full-time faculty members and approximately 9000 students.

For more information, visit www.iitk.ac.in.