Smoke-free policy
At Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), mental health care for staff is both free and confidential. Services address issues such as stress, anxiety, burnout, depression, time management, and interpersonal challenges, ensuring that staff can access help without stigma or cost barriers. Counselling sessions are facilitated by trained professionals, with external referrals provided transparently when required. The list of counsellors, deputy directors, and contact details is publicly available on MAHE’s sustainability portal and MAHE Website, ensuring transparency and ease of access. This system institutionalizes emotional support as a part of the university’s sustainability framework and fosters a culture of trust and well-being across departments.
To enhance visibility and participation, MAHE conducts mental health awareness programs focused on self-care, coping skills, and work–life balance, ensuring that well-being becomes part of workplace culture. Mental health content is integrated into staff orientation and policy documents, reinforcing long-term cultural change. The staff grievance cell serves as a supportive mechanism to address workplace-related stressors and promote mental safety, further aligning with sustainable development principles. MAHE’s mental health services and policy information are publicly available under the SDG 3: Good Health & Well-being section of the university’s sustainability website. Regular updates, workshops, and newsletters document ongoing activities, signalling the institution’s sustained investment in equitable mental health support for its workforce.
Through a free, confidential, and publicly documented support system, MAHE exemplifies how mental health care can be institutionalized within a sustainability framework. Its initiatives reduce stigma, enhance productivity, and promote inclusion, thereby advancing SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and contributing to broader UN SDGs in India. The structured combination of counselling, awareness, and transparent policy access builds a compassionate workplace that aligns well-being with professional excellence. By making mental health a shared institutional responsibility, MAHE demonstrates that sustainable development is not only environmental or economic—it is deeply human.