States » SouthPosted at: Oct 5 2026 7:22PM


AP: Medical colleges urged to strengthen mentor-mentee system to help students facing stress

Vijayawada, Oct 5 (UNI) Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences has called upon medical colleges to strengthen the Mentor-Mentee system, with one faculty member mentoring a group of six to seven medical students, to ensure early identification of stress and timely support for students facing emotional or psychological difficulties.

Vice-Chancellor Dr. P. Chandrasekhar and Registrar Dr. T. Sai Sudheer emphasised the need for a robust institutional support system while addressing the Principal of medical colleges during a webinar held on Monday on measures to safeguard the mental health and well-being of medical students.

EASE-AP Medical Director and Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr. Aparna Vuppala, USA, explained the mental-health challenges faced by medical students and the preventive and supportive measures that should be adopted by colleges.
Following the webinar, Dr. P. Chandrasekhar, Dr. T. Sai Sudheer and Dr. Aparna Vuppala addressed a press conference at the University. Dr. Surya Prabha, Director of Research, participated in the press conference.

The Vice-Chancellor and Registrar said that, depending on the availability of teaching faculty, each faculty member should mentor six to seven students and maintain regular interaction with them.
A strong Mentor-Mentee system would enable faculty to understand students’ academic and emotional difficulties at an early stage and facilitate appropriate support when required.

They recalled that the Government has already directed newly established Government Medical Colleges to constitute a Mental Health and Well-being Committee under the leadership of the Principal for the welfare of MBBS students.

"Medical colleges should create awareness among students about the pressures associated with medical education, available support mechanisms and the importance of physical and mental well-being. Parents should also be involved through meetings at least once a year," they said.

Mentors should remain alert to significant changes in students, including social withdrawal, increasing absenteeism, sudden decline in academic performance, harmful habits and repeated academic failures, and facilitate appropriate support when such warning signs are noticed, they added.

It is being implemented with the support of QPR Institute India (QPRI) and Suicide Prevention India Foundation (SPIF), with the Health Department, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Directorate of Medical Education and other stakeholders participating in the initiative.
The programme aims to improve mental-health awareness, encourage students to seek help when needed, strengthen peer-support skills and reduce stigma associated with mental-health problems.
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Tags: #AP: Medical colleges urged to strengthen mentor-mentee system to help students facing stress
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