Delhi Government Launches Mental Health Programme for Government School Students
According to an official statement released, the Delhi government has started mental health programs in government schools by implementing mental health check-ups for students by way of comprehensive counselling services. The Directorate of Education (DoE) is all set to develop a plan for expanding this program very rapidly after the success of a pilot program that provided counseling to over 20,000 students across 20 schools.
Atishi, our education minister, requested the DoE to create and maintain a detailed plan for extending counselling services to all government schools in Delhi so that all the students receive mental health support timely. According to this program,
The pilot program, which ran for a year, had psychologists working with students to maintain their mental well-being. This counseling sessions are very helpful for the students to manage stress and remain emotionally healthy, according to the statement released. She has also visited schools and met psychologists and EVGC counselors to discuss their experiences and take proper feedback during a session.
Mental health plus important role in children and is also the foundational block for development and quality economic growth. Mental health has a great impact on the academic performance, logical reasoning, and cognitive development of children and adolescents. According to the Economic Survey conducted in 2023-24, the school education system in India caters to around 26 crore students from various socio-economic backgrounds.
Data released by NCERT’s Mental Health and Well-Being of School Students Survey reveals that there was an increase in the prevalence of poor mental health among adolescents and deteriorated by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftershocks. According to the survey, it has found that 11% of students reported feeling anxious, 43% experienced mood swings, and 14% felt extreme emotions.
Causes of Mental Health Issues in Students
Many factors contribute to mental health problems in school students.
- Most important of all the factors are exposure to adversity, gender norms, pressure to conform to peers, violence in the form of domestic abuse and bullying and many more adverse socio-economic conditions that are responsible for mental health among students.
- The excessive use of social media and the internet is also responsible for an increase in mental health issues in students. Unsupervised use of the internet by adolescents can result in a range of problems, like obsessive consumption of social media and cyberbullying.
- Traumatic events may also trigger emotional turmoil in young adolescents. These all risk factors are signs of deteriorating mental health in the form of anxiety, depression and social withdrawal
The minister stated the importance of mental health and said, “A healthy mind is crucial for overall well-being. Through this initiative, we aim to enhance health services for students, contributing to a healthier society and nation.”
The psychologists notice that children face various mental health issues like stress from a very young age which have negative impact on their mental health. They also highlighted the lack of awareness which surrounds mental health and leaves many issues untreated. All these problems are identified through teachers, counselling, and working to address and help them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that counseling on mental health issues among students is very important to provide a supportive educational environment to adolescents by increasing awareness, early intervention, and promoting open communication. All these will be helpful to reduce the stigma and impact of mental health challenges. Schools and universities should give priority to mental well-being by integrating mental health education into their curriculum with the provision of counseling services and encouraging peer support systems. By adopting these measures, institutions can help students manage stress, anxiety, and mental health problems.
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