TRAIN TEACHERS IN MENTAL HEATH

Apropos ‘Mental health not a priority (HT Comment, August 10)’, our society is in a state of flux facing unprecedented problems relating to mental health and social relations, especially among the youth. It is time to consider providing health educator/psychologist in a school or cluster of schools. Parents should also be apprised of the importance of mental health. Unbridled ambition of parents is a major ingredient contributing to poor mental health in students. There is need to give more emphasis to mental health as a subject when training teachers.

S Kumar, Panchkula II

HT deserves a pat on the back for deciding to focus on a hitherto neglected facet of human health, that is, mental health of the youth . Being a psychiatrist, my experience is that the case of Chandigarh boy is just one example of an appalling lack of awareness among teachers

about mental health problems that boys and girls face. This lack of awareness leads to disastrous consequences including suicide. Many a talented minds are lost in the morass of mental illnesses. Instances like these underscore the need for sensitising teachers about emotional problems that students face. National dailies like HT should focus on issues relating to mental health.

Gulbahar S Sidhu,

Jalandhar