HT Correspondent
RONO HILLS, Nov 28: A leadership engagement workshop aimed at strengthening school-level responses to suicide risk was held at Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU), bringing together principals and headmasters from 12 private and government institutions under the Itanagar Capital Region and Papum Pare district.
The workshop was organised under the ongoing ICMR Multistate Implementation Research Study on Suicide Risk Reduction and Mental Wellbeing among school and college students, being implemented by AITS, RGU, with funding from the Indian Council of Medical Research and support from the Department of School Education.
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The day-long session focused on assessing institutional preparedness and developing formal protocols for handling crisis situations related to student mental health.
Officials said the discussions centred on the urgent need for schools to adopt clear guidelines to deal with completed suicides, attempted suicides, and cases where students exhibit high-risk behaviour or strong suicidal ideation.
Several school heads shared that they had previously dealt with incidents involving student suicides, attempts, or severe emotional distress. However, participants acknowledged that while individual efforts are being made by teachers and administrators to counsel students and engage parents, none of the institutions currently have standardised procedures or documented protocols for responding to such incidents.
Speakers noted that this gap often leaves schools unprepared during crises and increases the emotional burden on staff.
Resource persons highlighted that suicide cases tend to create a “ripple effect”, leaving classmates, close friends, and families at heightened risk due to trauma, grief, or secondary stress.
They emphasised that a structured institutional mechanism is essential not only for immediate crisis management but also for ensuring long-term support for affected students and preventing further incidents.
As part of the project, several participating institutions were formally onboarded to work toward building more resilient and mentally supportive school environments.
The schools include Alphabet Public School, Nirjuli; Alphabet Girls Residential School, Nirjuli; Government Higher Secondary School, Nirjuli; VKV, Nirjuli; Little Star School, Papunallah; Abotani Vidya Niketan, Pachin; Little Rose School, Naharlagun; Government Secondary School, Pachin; Government Higher Secondary School, Polo Colony; PMSHRI Government Higher Secondary School, Doimukh; Government Secondary School, G-Sector, Naharlagun; St. Thomas Residential School, Naharlagun; and VKV, PTC Banderdewa.
Officials involved in the initiative said the next phase of the project will involve developing school-specific protocols, capacity-building sessions for teachers, and establishing mental health support systems tailored to each institution’s needs. The programme aims to create a model of comprehensive suicide-risk management that can be adopted by schools across the state.
