IIT Hyderabad Sees 74% Rise in Students Seeking Counselling in Four Years

The number of students turning to the counselling service at the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT-H) has risen by 74 per cent in four years, according to information the institute shared in reply to a Right to Information (RTI) request.

In 2021, 290 students sought help at the institute's Sunshine Wellness Centre. By 2025 that figure had climbed to 505. Across the five years covered by the reply, a total of 2,406 students used the centre, which was set up in 2012 to support the emotional and mental well-being of students.

Budget and staff have grown too

The approved annual budget for counselling and mental-health services rose from Rs 2.44 lakh in 2021 to Rs 17.90 lakh in 2025 — more than seven times higher. The institute now has three full-time counsellors.

Why students seek help

Students most often reported stress and anxiety linked to academic pressure, loneliness, difficulty settling into campus life and relationship problems. P Madhukar, who heads the mentors at the Sunshine Centre, said that leaving family and familiar surroundings, combined with a limited social circle on arrival, weighs on many students.

Mentors also see a positive side to the numbers: greater awareness of mental health and less stigma around counselling mean more students are willing to ask for help early.

Where to get help

Students and parents looking for support can also reach the Tele-MANAS national mental-health helpline at 14416 or 1-800-891-4416, which is free and available round the clock.