UMMEED Guidelines

UMMEED Guidelines

News: The Union Ministry of Education in India has released draft guidelines called UMMEED to prevent student suicides in schools.

What are the key points?
• Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, Develop (UMMEED): The guidelines focus on enhancing sensitivity towards and support for students who may be at risk of self-harm.
• ‘Every Child Matters’: This is the foundational belief driving the development of these guidelines.
• Identifying At-Risk Students and Preventative Measures: The UMMEED guidelines suggest schools form a School Wellness Team (SWT) and identify the students who exhibit warning signs. It encourages immediate response and supportive measures for such students.
• Building Capacity and Widening the Safety Net: The guidelines recommend that schools take proactive measures in building the capacity of all stakeholders including teachers, school staff, students, families of students, and others.
• Regular Review of SWT: Schools are advised to regularly reconstitute the SWT, considering the resources at their disposal, to ensure all stakeholders have the chance to build awareness and capacity. The effectiveness and functioning of the SWT should also be reviewed annually.
• Nurturing Partnerships: The draft emphasizes nurturing partnerships between schools, parents, and the community, fostering societal support as a critical strategy for preventing suicides and reducing the stigma associated with suicidal behavior.
• Discarding Damaging Notions: Discarding damaging notions, including comparisons with peers, the perception of failure as permanent and the sole measurement of success based on academic performance, have also been recommended in the draft.