At O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), students have access to on-campus mental health resources like the Centre for Wellness and Counselling Services (CWCS) and Sukoon. Yet, despite these facilities, many students are actively choosing online therapy, citing a range of concerns about privacy, familiarity, and comfort. A pattern has emerged as students voice a lack of trust in the confidentiality and approachability of on-campus services.
One of the key reasons for this preference is the perceived lack of confidentiality within the university’s counselling system. Yash, a second-year law student, explained, “I just don’t want to express myself to someone within the university. There’s always a worry that whatever I share could be recorded or registered in a way that could later be used against me, even if unintentionally.” Yash's concerns echo a broader sentiment among students who feel that the structure of on-campus counselling services makes them wary of fully opening up.
Mahi, another student who has been in therapy since before joining JGU, shared that familiarity and trust with her previous therapist also factored into her decision to stick with online sessions. “I’ve been seeing the same therapist for years. Just because I’m at JGU now doesn’t mean I’m going to change that. Therapy is a deeply personal journey, and it takes time to build that connection. Starting over with someone at CWCS just doesn’t make sense to me,” Mahi explained.
The availability of online therapy has proven to be a convenient alternative that many students feel fits their lifestyle better. Krish, a student not currently engaged in therapy, believes that online counselling aligns better with the digital habits of today’s generation. “We’re always online, and speaking to someone through a screen actually feels more comfortable. It’s the way we interact daily – texting, calling, everything is digital. If I were to consider therapy, it’d feel easier and more natural to do it online,” Krish remarked, highlighting a generational shift toward digital interactions as a factor in students’ comfort levels.
Many students also expressed dissatisfaction with the current state of on-campus mental health services. Harshita, another JGU student, expressed her hesitations about the CWCS environment specifically. “I’d actually prefer offline therapy,” she said. “But the environment around CWCS makes me uncomfortable. There’s so much talk among students about what goes on there that it’s hard to separate fact from rumour. So even if I wanted to try it, I’d feel weird walking into CWCS.”
Arghya Kumar Nath, the Deputy Chief Counsellor and head of CWCS, acknowledged these perceptions among students. He explained that while CWCS aims to be a supportive space, certain protocols are sometimes misunderstood. “Many students feel CWCS isn’t confidential or don’t understand the concept of consent. In emergency situations, we may go against a student’s wishes to inform their family or take necessary actions. While that can make students feel like we’re working against them, our primary concern remains their safety.”
Dr. Amrita Roy, assistant professor at the Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences, also explained the reasons some of these concerns. “We have a large number of students, but a limited number of counsellors. Not every student will click with every counsellor – it’s just part of the therapy process. Ideally, we’d have more counsellors and even some with more experience so that students could have a choice and perhaps connect better,” Dr. Roy said. She noted that the age proximity between some counsellors and students could add to feelings of discomfort, as some students may find it hard to view younger counsellors as authority figures.
Dr. Roy further emphasized that the university administration is aware of these challenges and has been discussing potential improvements to make CWCS more approachable for students. “They’re planning to address these issues, but implementing change takes time. For now, we’re doing our best to make CWCS a safe and reliable option for those who need it,” she added.
The conversation around mental health and therapy options at JGU has highlighted a need for more diverse, flexible, and reassuring counselling options. For many, the choice to rely on online therapy is not a rejection of CWCS or Sukoon, but rather an expression of students’ desire for safe, private, and effective support systems tailored to their individual needs. As more universities across India are expanding their wellness programs, the example at JGU suggests that a balance between in-person and online services, with added reassurances around confidentiality, might best serve the mental health needs of today’s student body.
Vidhi Mehta is a final-year journalism student at JSJC