- The two-day workshop brought together more than 100 participants from 28 higher education institutions to strengthen institutional action on student wellbeing and supportive campus ecosystems.
Guwahati, September 21, 2026: The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati) concluded a two-day Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Positive Mental Health, Resilience and Wellbeing, held on September 20 and 21, 2026. The workshop focused on translating a shared understanding of mental health and wellbeing policies into practical institutional action.
The programme was organised under the Teacher Connect Programme of the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme (MMTTP) of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
More than 100 participants from 28 higher education institutions across the North East and the Delhi region participated in the workshop. The participants included faculty members, institutional leaders, hostel wardens, student welfare and hostel management officers, counsellors and student representatives.
Focus on Institutional Action for Student Wellbeing
A key objective of the workshop was to enable participants to return to their respective campuses with actionable insights for developing and strengthening institutional systems supporting student wellbeing.
The discussions highlighted that creating a supportive campus environment requires coordinated efforts across different levels of an institution. Participants discussed ways to strengthen institutional policies and support systems while ensuring that they remain responsive to students' needs.
IIT Guwahati Director Highlights Need for Deeper Understanding
Speaking during the event, Prof. Devendra Jalihal, Director, IIT Guwahati, highlighted concerns surrounding mental health among young people.
He emphasised the need to understand the causes of mental health challenges in depth rather than responding only after a tragedy. He also stressed the importance of collectively identifying ways forward to address these concerns.
Ministry of Education Highlights Changing Higher Education Landscape
Mr. Devendra Kumar, Director, Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, spoke about the increase in student enrolment in tertiary education institutions, particularly after 2011.
He noted that the increase reflected growing aspirations and competition among young people in tertiary education. He also emphasised the importance of participating institutions supporting one another and sharing their experiences and learnings.
Participants Encouraged to Become Agents of Change
Mr. Jitendra Nagpal, Director in charge, Institute of Mental Health and Life Skills Promotion, New Delhi, and Director, Expression India, spoke about India's diversity and demographic dividend.
He said that the workshop aimed to help participants grow together and return to their institutions as agents of change.
Institutional Approaches to Mental Health and Wellbeing
The workshop featured sessions drawing on experiences and practices from institutions including IIT Guwahati and IIT Madras.
Participants discussed how mental health and wellbeing initiatives can be approached at the institutional level. The programme also provided an opportunity for participants to raise questions, clarify implementation-related concerns and explore ways to adapt relevant practices to their own campus environments.
The discussions covered institutional approaches to:
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Positive mental health
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Student wellbeing
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Resilience and coping
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Social connectedness
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Supportive campus ecosystems
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Institutional policies and support systems
More Than 20 Resource Persons Participate
More than 20 resource persons, including mental health professionals, doctors, counsellors, academicians and institutional experts, contributed to the programme.
Their expertise provided participants with perspectives on developing appropriate institutional approaches to positive mental health, student wellbeing, resilience and coping, social connectedness and supportive campus ecosystems.
Key Highlights
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Event: Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Positive Mental Health, Resilience and Wellbeing
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Venue: IIT Guwahati
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Dates: September 20-21, 2026
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Duration: Two days
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Participants: More than 100
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Institutions represented: 28 higher education institutions
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Regions represented: North East and Delhi region
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Programme: Teacher Connect Programme under MMTTP
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Organising framework: Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme
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Focus: Student wellbeing, resilience, positive mental health and supportive campus ecosystems
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Resource persons: More than 20 mental health professionals, doctors, counsellors, academicians and institutional experts
FAQs
What workshop did IIT Guwahati organise?
IIT Guwahati organised a two-day Regional Capacity Building Workshop on Positive Mental Health, Resilience and Wellbeing.
When was the IIT Guwahati workshop held?
The workshop was held on September 20 and 21, 2026.
How many participants attended the workshop?
More than 100 participants from 28 higher education institutions attended the workshop.
Under which programme was the workshop organised?
The workshop was organised under the Teacher Connect Programme of the Malaviya Mission Teacher Training Programme (MMTTP) of the Department of Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Government of India.
Who participated in the workshop?
Participants included faculty members, institutional leaders, hostel wardens, student welfare and hostel management officers, counsellors and student representatives.
What was the main objective of the workshop?
The workshop aimed to provide participants with actionable insights that could help strengthen institutional systems for student wellbeing and create supportive campus ecosystems.
What topics were discussed?
The programme addressed positive mental health, student wellbeing, resilience and coping, social connectedness and institutional approaches to creating supportive campus environments.
How many resource persons contributed to the programme?
More than 20 resource persons, including mental health professionals, doctors, counsellors, academicians and institutional experts, contributed to the programme.
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