IIT Kharagpur to launch AI-based emotional monitoring tool for ‘anonymous check-ins' as part of new mental health programme
The programme will be rolled out as a pilot project and is expected to be extended to other IITs in the future. It combines AI-powered emotional monitoring with professional counselling and community-based support.
The institute's in-house experts are developing the emotional health monitoring tool in collaboration with a tech consultancy firm. The tool will allow students to conduct anonymous self-assessments, with early-warning systems designed to flag emotional distress across academic, hostel, and administrative units.
Professional mental health care will also be a part of the initiative, including access to licensed therapists, psychiatrists, and online counselling services such as YourDOST. The existing SARTH framework will be expanded to 'improve outreach and reduce stigma around mental health'.
IIT Kharagpur will also continue to engage student-led groups such as the Student Welfare Group (SWG), Institute Wellness Group (IWG), and Technology Students' Gymkhana in mentorship and outreach activities. Officials said efforts would be made to build mental health awareness into regular campus life.
As part of its community outreach, the institute plans to strengthen its student clubs and societies, which range from robotics and sustainability to gender rights and spirituality. Under the National Education Policy 2020, students will also have the opportunity to earn academic credit for working on real-world social challenges.
The institute is also set to introduce the programme called Campus Mothers — a volunteer initiative involving faculty, staff, and their family members, trained by mental health professionals. These volunteers are expected to act as informal touchpoints for students seeking emotional support.
Meanwhile, Director Prof Suman Chakraborty visited Lal Bahadur Shastri Hall of Residence on campus this week to meet newly admitted first-year undergraduate students and their parents.
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