The government schools in Delhi have been instructed to carry out mental health check-ups for students in order to provide comprehensive counselling services, as per an official announcement.
Education Minister of Delhi, Atishi, has directed the Directorate of Education (DoE) to develop a plan for this initiative. The plan builds on the success of a pilot program that offered counseling to more than 20,000 students across 20 schools.
Atishi has tasked the DoE with devising a plan to extend counselling services to all government schools, ensuring that students receive timely support for their mental health needs.
She mentioned that during the pilot program, Educational and Vocational Guidance Counselors (EVGC) and school psychologists worked with the students over the course of a year to support their mental well-being.
Atishi highlighted that group sessions and social-emotional learning programs were instrumental in helping students manage stress and maintain emotional well-being.
It was stated that she also held a meeting with school psychologists and EVGC counsellors to discuss their experiences and gather feedback during a session.
Emphasising the importance of mental health, the minister said, "A healthy mind is essential for overall well-being. Through this initiative, we aim to provide better health services to school students, contributing to a healthy society and nation." During the session, the school psychologists shared insights with the minister on how early intervention can address mental health issues and reconnect students with their studies, the statement stated.
"From a young age, children are under stress for various reasons, which can have a negative impact on their mental health. Unfortunately, there isn't enough awareness about mental health, leading to issues being untreated," the psychologists said.
"However, we are identifying these problems in children through teachers and counselling and working to address them," they added.
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