Delhi government plans mental health counseling for school students
Delhi Education Minister Atishi has instructed the Directorate of Education (DoE) to develop a plan for mental health counseling in all government schools. This directive follows a successful pilot phase conducted in 20 government schools last year, during which over 20,000 students received counseling. In the pilot phase, educational and vocational guidance counsellors (EVGC) and school psychologists helped students maintain their mental health. In addition, group sessions and social-emotional learning taught pupils how to handle stress and maintain emotional wellness.
Pilot project's success leads to expansion plans
The pilot project was deemed successful by the education minister's office, which stated that it played a crucial role in promoting better health services for school students. "The mental health Initiative has played an important role in this direction. Under this scheme, we aim to provide better health services to school students. With the help of which, a healthy mind, society and a healthy nation will be contributed," the statement read, quoting Atishi.
Feedback from school psychologists and counselors
Atishi also interacted with school psychologists and EVGC counselors to gather feedback on the pilot phase. The experts highlighted the importance of timely counseling and raised concerns about a lack of awareness regarding mental health issues. They shared that children often experience stress from an early age, which can negatively impact their mental health if not addressed promptly.
