Chandigarh, 8 February: The Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) and Geetanjali Counselling Helpline of Mehr Chand Mahajan DAV College for Women organised a Faculty Training Programme on the theme ‘Decoding the National Task Force on Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Higher Educational Institutions. The resource person for the programme was Dr Adarsh Kohli, Former Professor, Department of Psychiatry, PGIMER, Chandigarh. The session focused on the mandate and recommendations of the National Task Force on Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Higher Educational Institutions, an expert body constituted as per the directions of the Honble Supreme Court, to address the growing concerns of student mental health, rising incidents of student suicides, and the need for strengthening the institutional support systems. Dr Kohli elaborated on the identifiable signs, symptoms, and risk factors associated with anxiety, panic attacks, depression, suicidal tendencies, and other mental health concerns among college students. Through insightful case studies, she equipped faculty members with practical, application-based strategies, resources, and interventions to foster a safe, supportive, and nurturing learning environment. She also highlighted recent revisions in the national mental health budget 2026 and discussed the role of the National Task Force in reviewing institutional frameworks related to students' holistic wellbeing. Emphasising the urgent need for proactive intervention, Dr Kohli underscored that the rising levels of student-distress call for an inclusive, empathetic, and responsive academic ecosystem.