CHENNAI, Sept 10: On the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day (September 10), Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras) is reaching out to the parents of its students to provide a well-rounded support system to its students.
It organised an interactive session aimed at helping them better understand, communicate with and support their children during their academic journey.
World Suicide Prevention Day was established in 2003 by International Association for Suicide Prevention in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) to break the stigma of silence.
As part of its week-long observance, the Institute also organised ‘PREM – Parents’ Role in Encouraging and Mentoring, an interactive online session for parents of IIT Madras students. It was conducted today (9th September 2026) by Dr. Yamini Kannapan, Senior Consultant Psychiatrist, Behavioural Science, Kauvery Hospital.
The session was designed to provide parents with practical guidance on understanding students’ needs, communicating effectively, and supporting their emotional and mental well-being. It recognised that the transition to college was an important phase not only for students but also for their families whose support and encouragement is vital for their overall well-being.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “Happiness is a collective responsibility. As an Institute we are continuously evolving methods to reduce stress among our bright children. The PREM and SAFE initiatives are launched for this purpose. Very thankful to Dr. Yamini Kannapan for bringing out the SAFE manual which will provide guidance to the parents towards identifying and handling children with stress.”
‘SAFE INITIATIVE FOR HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS’
During the occasion, Prof. V. Kamakoti also launched ‘SAFE – Building Psychological Safety for High-Achieving Students’ handbook for parents of IIT Madras students. Authored by Dr. Yamini Kannapan, after her extensive experience of working with the IIT Madras students, the book translates psychological principles into practical guidance for parents navigating the pressures faced by high-achieving young people.
Based on the ‘SAFE framework’ (Secure Base, Autonomy Support, Failure-Friendly Mindset and Early Recognition), the book encourages parents to create an environment where students feel safe, accepted and able to discuss struggles and setbacks without fear of judgement. The book can be accessed from the website of the Office of Dean (Students) (www.dost.iitm.ac.in)
Further, Prof. Sathyanarayana N. Gummadi, Dean (Students), added, “We consider parents as important partners in ensuring the wellbeing of our students on Campus. As a part of our Kushal initiative, we regularly reach out to them through Whatsapp to ensure that they remain connected to their wards and in case their child is unhappy for any reason, it is flagged to appropriate authority for possible resolution.”
MiTR WELLNESS WEBSITE
A further highlight of the event was the launch of MiTR Wellness Website by Prof. V. Kamakoti. It was developed by the MiTR student team with the guidance and support of Prof. Sarith P. Sathian, Advisor, MiTR, Prof. Sathyanarayana N. Gummadi, Dean (Students) and Prof. Suresh Kumar Rayala, Associate Dean (Wellness). The platform brought together wellness resources and support information in one student-friendly space.
The website provides students with access to faculty coordinators across departments, hostel-wise student coordinators, emergency and useful contacts, information on MITR initiatives and past events, student experiences, alumni information and messages from current and former advisors. It is designed to make available wellness support easier to discover and access.
IIT Madras also launched a Wellness App for appointment booking, enabling students to conveniently book confidential counselling sessions with wellness professionals based on their choice and language preference through the Office of the Dean (Students) website.
As an observance to the World Suicide Prevention Day, MiTR is organizing a week-long series of events and activities on Campus including a 5k marathon held on 6th September 2026, a talk by Dr. Kandaswamy Paramasivan, Former Director General of Police, Govt. of TN on “From Godavari Hostel to the Uniform – What nobody tells you about falling and getting up”, Blindfold Conversation Activities, and a lecture on ‘Win the Mind’s Battle: Mental Resilience Decoded’ by Dr Sweta Adatia, Neurologist Cognitive Science Brain Coach and Founder, Limitless Brain Lab, scheduled on 10th September 2026, among other events.