AP Launches Counselling Programme For First-Year MBBS Students
Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav said the initiative would cover first-year MBBS students in both government and private medical colleges
Vijayawada: In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the Andhra Pradesh government has launched a structured counselling programme for first-year MBBS students (2025–26) to curb deaths by suicide among medical students.
The Dr NTR University of Health Sciences (NTRUHS) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding with the QPR Institute of India to implement the programme. Health Secretary Saurabh Gaur was present at the event.
Health minister Satya Kumar Yadav said the initiative would cover first-year MBBS students in both government and private medical colleges. The programme aims to equip students with skills to manage stress and overcome suicidal tendencies, which are increasingly seen among first-year medical students.
The minister said the government decided to intervene early, as the transition into medical education often makes first-year students particularly vulnerable to mental stress. Health Secretary Gaur said the health university would bear the cost of training students from private medical colleges as well.
US-based NRI and child psychology specialist Dr Aparna Uppala, associated with the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, will serve as director of the training programme.
Citing a 2024 National Medical Commission (NMC) survey, officials said 16.2 per cent of MBBS students and 31.2 per cent of postgraduate students showed suicidal tendencies, while 19 per cent of undergraduate and 41 per cent of postgraduate students were reluctant to seek help for mental stress. An NMC task force report also noted that 27.8 per cent of UG and 15 per cent of PG medical students suffered from mental health disorders.
NTRUHS Vice-Chancellor Dr P. Chandrasekhar and Registrar Dr V. Radhika Reddy said students would first be assessed through a questionnaire, after which targeted counselling and training would be provided. Each medical college will also have a designated coordinator to oversee the programme’s implementation.