Copyright thehindu
Jipmer has established a 24/7 helpline to assist students in mental distress as part of several measures to strengthen counselling services. The J-CARES (Jipmer Centre for Counseling, Assistance, Resilience, and Empowerment of Students) Cell, set up in the wake of the constitution of the Supreme Court National Task Force (NTF) to address mental health concerns of students and prevent suicides, would provide counselling services to students through trained counsellors and adopt a peer-support approach. Students with issues are offered different options to reach out to the cell in addition to contacting the helpline. They can send an email, fill an online form, deposit a written slip in dropboxes kept in designated places, approach faculty mentors, core or gatekeeper faculty members or peer support group. The unit has also been tasked to undertake mental health promotive activities involving the students throughout the year. Vir Singh Negi, Jipmer Director, said in a press note that the J-CARES programme was inspired by a successful model developed at AIIMS Bilaspur that he headed previously. The facility was governed by a core group of faculty members, who would steer its activities under the supervision of the academic section, including training of stakeholders, and were supported by gatekeeper faculty members from various departments. The J-CARES Cell, he hoped, would further bolster the efforts of the institute in providing an effective support system for students. The J-CARES helpline can be reached on +917806913160 in addition to TeleMANAS toll line 14416.
