Kota Is Experiencing A Clinical Psychologist Shortage Despite A Rise In Suicide Cases

Even though there were 26 coaching student suicides in 2023—the most in a single year—Kota still lacks professional psychologists to handle the mental health needs of the 2.50 lakh coaching students who are studying away from home for entrance exams like JEE and NEET.

There isn't a clinical psychologist at the Psychological Counselling Centre, which opened in September of this year at Kota's New Medical College Hospital in accordance with the state government's budget statement. Despite a minimum of five requests, the NMCH only has one clinical psychologist on staff and insufficiently trained personnel.

The lack of M Phil in clinical psychology programmes in the state's medical colleges has made the problem worse because the people working in the state's government medical institutions are people with degrees from other states, which means they can't meet demand.

In January of last year, Dr. Vinod Kumar Daria, a professor (MD) in the psychology department at the New Medical College Hospital, submitted a proposal to the state government for an M.Phil. programme in clinical psychology in government institutions located in Rajasthan. After the request was accepted, a psychological counselling centre staffed by qualified clinical psychologists was announced.

Dr. B S Shekhawat, Head of the Psychology Department and Additional Principal at the Government Medical College, Kota, acknowledged that there was a severe shortage of clinical psychologists and knowledgeable counsellors. He told PTI that although he had written for clinical psychologists and counsellors, they had not yet been appointed.

According to Dr. Shekhawat, the department employs a single professional clinical psychologist who serves MD students as well as department faculty. Additionally, he has received training in clinical psychology.

Currently, a team of 96 counsellors with two clinical psychologists are working under him and extending psychological counselling and treatment to students at its various centres in the city, Dr Harish Sharma, principal psychologist at one of the coaching giants in Kota said.
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