- Partnership makes National Law Institute University, Bhopal the first law university in India to provide free, unlimited counselling access to all students
The National Law Institute University, Bhopal (NLIU Bhopal) has entered into a partnership with MindPeers, a mental health and wellbeing platform, becoming the first law university in India to offer unlimited counselling sessions free of cost to all its students.
The partnership aims to make professional mental health support easier to access for law students, who often face high academic pressure and stress. By enabling students to seek anonymous, professional and confidential help, the collaboration marks a first-of-its-kind initiative within legal education in the country.
Through the partnership, every student at NLIU Bhopal will have access to free and unlimited online counselling sessions conducted by trained and certified mental health professionals associated with MindPeers. Students will also be able to use self-assessment tests, engaging tools such as CogniArt, and access insights into their therapy progress. All features will be available confidentially through the MindPeers website and app.
Kanika Agarwal, Founder, MindPeers, said that many students continue to perform well academically while struggling internally with anxiety, imposter syndrome and fear of failure. Burnout, she noted, is appearing much earlier, even among first- and second-year students. She added that students are increasingly open to seeking help and engaging with therapy and self-care, provided the support fits into their lives through a combination of digital access and human care, and that the partnership with NLIU Bhopal is a step towards addressing these needs.
The initiative establishes a structured mental health support framework designed to reduce common barriers such as cost, time constraints and hesitation around in-person consultations, while encouraging students to take the first step towards wellbeing with greater flexibility in how and when they seek support.
Raka Arya, Dean, Student Welfare, National Law Institute University, Bhopal, said student mental health remains a priority for the university. She noted that with changing times, the needs of students continue to evolve, and the collaboration with MindPeers reflects a shared commitment to creating a stigma-free environment where students are encouraged to seek help when needed and have access to therapy and self-help tools. She added that the university hopes the partnership will contribute positively to student wellbeing and overall health.
The collaboration comes at a time when student mental health concerns are becoming increasingly acute. According to National Crime Records Bureau data for 2023, as many as 13,892 students died by suicide in India during the year, accounting for 8.1 per cent of all suicide deaths in the country. The data also reflects a 65 per cent increase in student suicides over the past decade, underscoring the urgent need for preventive and accessible mental health support within educational institutions.
