Breaking Barriers: Advancing Mental Health in Indian Education

In the vibrant tapestry of Indian education, where the pursuit of academic excellence intertwines with the shaping of young minds, there exists an urgent call to action—one that resonates at the core of our educational institutions: the imperative need to safeguard the mental well-being of our students.

As we navigate the post-pandemic landscape, it has become increasingly apparent that our youth are confronted with a myriad of mental health challenges, silently permeating through the corridors of our schools and echoing across the playgrounds. The statistics speak volumes: Recent studies indicate that most of the 250 million school-going students in India grapple with stressors ranging from academic pressures and peer dynamics to familial expectations and the pervasive influence of social media. Alarmingly, over 60% of students report high levels of stress related to exams, while rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among post-pandemic students have surged to concerning levels.

Acknowledging the critical role of School Mental Health Programs (SMHP) in enhancing the mental well-being of school children is a global consensus. Regrettably, India lags far behind in this regard, with SMHP being sorely neglected. Despite sporadic commendable efforts, there is a glaring absence of a comprehensive SMHP that caters to all school children throughout the country, irrespective of their rural or urban backgrounds. This neglect can be attributed to various factors, including the absence of a centralized steering body, inadequate intersectoral coordination, and limited involvement of stakeholders. The urgent need for a nationwide implementation of SMHP on the mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention (PPEI) model is undeniable. Highlighting this pressing issue, this paragraph draws attention to the dire state of SMHP in India. It emphasizes the imperative steps to establish an effective nationwide SMHP based on the PPEI framework (Indian Journal of Psychiatry 63(1):p 91-96, Jan–Feb 2021).

India, home to the largest number of children and adolescents globally, has prioritized developmental delays and disorders within its School Health Program under the 'Ayushman Bharat' scheme. Specifically addressing behavior disorders like Autism, Learning Disorders, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, the program encompasses health promotion initiatives covering substance use, internet safety, meditation, and yoga alongside a broad spectrum of mental health concerns. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) advocates for the employment of counselors in secondary and senior secondary schools to foster students' self-concept, resilience, and curiosity towards self and the environment. Reviews of Indian School Mental Health Programs (SMHPs) highlight issues such as students' reluctance to seek help, trust issues with adults, and fear of victimization for divulging concerns. Addressing these challenges requires consideration of language, culture, geopolitical factors, and family dynamics, as this paper aims to assess existing programs with a focus on solutions. (Indian J Psychol Med. 2023 May; 45(3): 283–288).

In a nation teeming with potential, where nearly 450 million youths are poised to shape the future, we must address this crisis with urgency and resolve. Within the nurturing embrace of our educational institutions, we must lay the foundation for resilience, emotional intelligence, and holistic well-being.

Hence, a resounding call exists to embrace a holistic approach to education that transcends traditional academic boundaries and encompasses value education, global awareness, and emotional literacy. This entails integrating preventive mental healthcare initiatives seamlessly into the fabric of our educational curriculum, from the earliest stages of development through the culmination of secondary education.

Indeed, while academic excellence remains paramount, it must be complemented by a robust framework of value education—a curriculum that instils moral values, fosters empathy and cultivates a sense of social responsibility. Furthermore, there is a pressing need to integrate global issues into the educational discourse, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to navigate the complexities of our interconnected world with empathy and understanding.

Integrating emotions-based education is central to this transformative vision. This approach empowers students to recognize, understand, and regulate their emotions effectively.

Social, Emotional, Ethical, and Logical Learning (SEEL)—a paradigm-shifting framework that serves as the cornerstone of preventive mental healthcare initiatives in education. Through SEEL, students acquire the language and tools to articulate their emotions and develop the interpersonal skills to navigate interpersonal relationships, ethical dilemmas, and complex societal issues gracefully and resiliently.

Consider the analogy of mathematical progression: just as children learn to count and compute in their formative years, eventually mastering the intricacies of calculus, so too must students be guided along the continuum of emotional growth. SEEL serves as the compass, navigating them through self-awareness, relationship-building, ethical decision-making, and critical thinking.

In the forthcoming discourse, we shall delve deeper into SEEL's essence—its core competencies, transformative potential, and profound implications for the holistic development of our youth.

Challenges

Implementation of mental health support in India's schools faces numerous barriers, including challenges in accessing community-based treatment due to language barriers, cost constraints, transportation issues, and inflexible work schedules for families. Additionally, the scarcity of trained mental health professionals in India, particularly in rural areas, exacerbates the problem, as does the reluctance of schools to engage in such programs due to personnel shortages, conflicting roles, and insufficient funding. The stigma surrounding mental health further impedes efforts, alongside logistical challenges like limited physical space, lack of cooperation from school management, teacher hesitancy to refer students for assistance, irregular availability of counselors on campus, and privacy concerns. These multifaceted barriers underscore the need for comprehensive strategies to overcome obstacles and ensure effective mental health support within educational settings. (Indian J Psychol Med. 2023 May; 45(3): 283–288).

The mental well-being of India's 250 million school-going students is a collective responsibility that involves parents, educators, communities, policymakers, and governments. Effective interventions depend on having adequate resources and coordinating efforts across stakeholders to address mental health challenges comprehensively.

Sanjeev Tanna

|Founder and CEO at NGNSoft Inc., USA| Sanjeev Tanna Pvt. Ltd., India| Spearheading Preventive Mental Healthcare Platform|