As colleges prepare to reopen, other than physical safety norms, higher education institutions are also expected to provide students with mental health support in guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC). The guidelines have focussed on the fact that students may have had anxiety, mental health and psychological issues during the lockdown and should have the means to deal with them.

The state government approved the reopening from February 15 onwards last week. Apart from a system providing support through mental health professionals and helplines, the UGC guidelines also ask colleges to form COVID-19 help groups at the campus level.