Youth and mental health
Of all the experiences children have in their formative years, the ones they have in school play a tremendous role in shaping their world. This is when the seeds of many beliefs and behaviours take root – lessons learnt from teachers, peers and even the school ecosystem that stay with them long after they grow up. During these precious and vulnerable years, it becomes important to lay the foundations of an understanding about their own mind, and the challenges it could face along the way. “To be healthy as a whole, mental health plays a role”, is the idea that we need to convey, right from a young age.
It starts with helping them understand the social and emotional development they are going through and then creating a vibrant mental health support system that will help them effectively manage the challenges they encounter during their development. And such challenges are aplenty in today’s world. A survey by Assocham Social Development Foundation during March-june 2012 shows that nearly 68% of children below the age of 12 experience stress in school – the kind of stress that leads to the onset of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and other mental health concerns. We keep coming across increasing accounts of self-harm and emotional distress among children and the numbers are only getting worse every year. The competitive world of academics is only a stepping stone to the kind of pressure that they may face later on in life, and the best defence we can give them is to teach them to understand and manage such experiences.
Having a mental health program me in schools includes having teachers who are trained in mental health first aid and workshops to create awareness among children and parents. Support groups for parents and students, as well as access to a network of mental healthcare professionals also plays a big role in early intervention and care. Recently, the Aditya Birla World Academy and Mpower facilitated ‘The Happy Place’, India’s first student-led mental health festival, with the primary objective of encouraging students to explore and share their understanding of mental health in a safe & nurturing environment. The two day festival featured activities and competitions that were carefully planned to bring out various themes related to mental health. With over 19 schools and 200 students participating in it, The Happy Place became a vibrant platforms and a safe space for students to explore mental health themes and to express their thoughts around it.
Having a robust mental health program in schools and even colleges will help us nurture students who understand, prevent or overcome issues like bullying, exam stress, anxiety about the future, substance abuse, self harm, thereby improving their overall mental health, productivity, learning abilities, and their chances to succeed in life. If today we sow the seeds of selfcare and good mental health, tomorrow, they reap the benefits of a truly healthy life.