Archive · 10 Sep 2026
IIT Madras Launches Handbook Supporting Students’ Mental Well-Being
IIT Madras held an online meeting to help parents support their children.
The meeting took place before World Suicide Prevention Day.
A psychiatrist explained how parents can communicate better with students.
She also discussed how students may handle schoolwork and emotional pressure.
The institute launched a handbook called SAFE.
SAFE stands for Secure Base, Autonomy Support, Failure-Friendly Mindset and Early Recognition.
The handbook encourages parents to let students talk about problems without fear of being judged.
Parents can find the handbook on the Office of Dean (Students) website.
IIT Madras held an online session for parents ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day.
The PREM session addressed communication, students’ needs, and academic and emotional pressures.
Psychiatrist Dr Yamini Kannapan conducted the interactive session for parents.
Director V Kamakoti said happiness was a collective responsibility and described efforts to reduce student stress.
Kamakoti launched the SAFE handbook, which offers parents guidance based on four psychological-support principles.
- Who
- IIT Madras, its Director Professor V Kamakoti, parents of students, and psychiatrist Dr Yamini Kannapan.
- What
- The institute organized the PREM parent session and launched the SAFE psychological-safety handbook.
- When
- The session was held on Wednesday, ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day.
- Where
- The session was conducted online, and the handbook is available through IIT Madras’s Office of Dean (Students) website.
- Why
- To help parents understand and support students’ emotional well-being and cope with academic and emotional pressures.
- Session
- PREM — Parents’ Role in Encouraging and Mentoring
- Handbook
- SAFE — Building Psychological Safety for High-Achieving Students
- Speaker and author
- Dr Yamini Kannapan, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Behavioural Science, Kauvery Hospital
- SAFE framework
- Secure Base, Autonomy Support, Failure-Friendly Mindset and Early Recognition
- Focus
- Communication, students’ needs, and academic and emotional pressures
- Availability
- The handbook is available on the Office of Dean (Students), IIT Madras website
- Institutional initiatives
- IIT Madras said PREM and SAFE were launched to strengthen student support