As studies have shown that first-year medical students experience higher levels of mental stress, the government has decided to take proactive steps to support their mental development, says Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav.
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The Andhra Pradesh government has launched a special programme to prevent suicides and reduce mental stress among medical students.
The Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) has entered into an agreement with the Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Institute India, a U.S.-based organisation, to provide structured mental health training to medical students.
Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Friday said the programme would be implemented from 2025–26 academic year, focusing primarily on first-year MBBS students in all the government and private medical colleges across the State.
The initiative aims to enhance students’ emotional well-being, help them manage stress, and prevent suicidal thoughts through college-wise scheduled training sessions.
The Minister said the agreement marks the first such initiative in the country, noting that studies had shown first-year medical students experience higher levels of mental stress. Based on these findings, the coalition government decided to take proactive steps to support students’ mental development at the earliest stage of medical education, he added.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Health Secretary Saurabh Gaur, and the training programmes would be coordinated by Aparna Uppal, a U.S.-based Indian-origin child psychiatrist associated with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) and Director of the EASE (Emotional Assessment of Students by Educators) initiative. The QPR India would conduct the training under her coordination.
Mr. Saurabh Gaur said, starting from 2025–26, the programme would run for first year students. The cost of training for students in private medical colleges would be borne by the NTRUHS, ensuring uniform implementation across institutions.
Citing findings from the National Medical Commission (NMC), officials highlighted that a 2024 study revealed mental health issues among 27.8% of UG medical students and 15% of PG students, as reported by the National Task Force on Mental Health and Well-being of Medical Students.
As part of the training, mental health professionals would directly interact with students to address their concerns. Students’ mental health status would be assessed through questionnaires, followed by personalised counselling. Each medical college would appoint a coordinator to oversee effective implementation of the programme.
Published – January 02, 2026 08:58 pm IST
