Together we can fight distress

The strategy being implemented for enabling good mental health envisages sustainable psychological support to students, parents and teachers

The pandemic is a bolt from the blue and has been a challenging time for the world community. While there is fear of contracting the virus, mental distress has been aggravated by social distancing, the lockdown and economic uncertainty. However, the stress has taken a bigger toll on the already vulnerable children and adolescents. Because childhood and adolescence are accompanied by numerous physical, emotional and social changes that are aggravated by poverty, abuse or violence. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 10-13 per cent of children and adolescents in India are dealing with mental health issues. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO), the numbers would have increased in India and globally due to the pandemic as there has been increased irritability, restlessness and nervousness among students while adapting to the “new normal” of remote learning.

The criticality of mental wellness needs to be understood because it affects the overall functioning of a person. Therefore, the consequence of not addressing mental health conditions at the right time may extend to adulthood, affecting both physical and psychological health. Though depression and poor mental health are a cause for worry, there is no need for despair as they are treatable if help is given at the right time. Hence, parents and family members must watch out for early signs of distress and discuss, support and if necessary, visit a counsellor.

Keeping the mental health of students in mind, the Ministry of Education has expanded its efforts in this direction through the years and various interventions have been made for its upkeep. To lay the foundation of mental well-being, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) affiliation bye-laws and University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines mandate a counsellor in every school and Higher Education Institution (HEI).

Given the closure of schools and colleges due to the lockdown, students at all levels have being going through an extended period of remote learning. But their mental well-being needs remain the same. Hence, the mode of transmitting mental health wellness also needed to change so that the students could continue to have access to counselling even in the current atmosphere of uncertainty. Keeping this in mind, the Ministry of Education issued guidelines for online learning, which include stress management. There have also been live interaction sessions on guidance for the mental well-being of students on the Swayam Prabha channel. The National Institute of Open Schooling has likewise conducted counselling on mental health issues and held yoga, meditation, dance, art, painting and music classes in virtual summer camps. Simultaneously, under the teacher’s training programme, NISHTHA, educators are being trained to handle mental well-being issues through an online module. 

Even the HEIs are addressing the key issue of mental health well-being adequately and the All India Council for Technical Education had conducted a large number of faculty training programmes where 10,000 educators were trained to become effective counsellors. The UGC has made appeals and issued advisories and notices regarding mental health, psychosocial concerns and the well-being of everyone on the campus. Plus, helplines for mental health have been set up along with the formation of COVID-19 help groups of students to identify fellow students in need of help so that they can be provided immediate assistance. 

The Ministry of Education’s efforts did not end here and in keeping with the World Mental Health theme for 2020, it has rightly established that mental health is a human right and should be available to all. Hence, greater investment is needed for more extensive access to facilities, and under the Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the launch of Manodarpan for the psychological well-being of students, family members and teachers during the pandemic. A working group with experts from the fields of education, mental health and psychosocial issues was formed. Along with providing adequate psychological support, the group is responsible for monitoring and catering to the mental health issues and concerns of students. Support will be enabled through counselling services, online resources and a helpline. A toll-free number (8448440632) has been set up which will function both during and post pandemic times.

The strategy being implemented for enabling good mental health envisages the provision of sustainable psychological support to students, parents and teachers. The Ministry plans to integrate proactive mental health and well-being services into mainstream learning processes. I foresee an India where everyone has equal access to prosperous mental health and hence a prosperous nation.