Mental and Physical Health School Clinics in Delhi Govt Schools under AAP

Last Updated: 21 March 2024

Mental Health of School Children in India?[1]

-- ICMR study: 12-13% students suffer from emotional & behavioural issues
-- WHO on Mental health: India tops with the highest number of mental & behavioural disorders; nearly half of them begin before the age of 15

Match 2024: Total 45 School clinics running across Delhi[2]

Clinics for Mental & Physical wellbeing of school students[1:1]

8th March 2022: ‘School Health Clinics’ started first on pilot basis[3]
-- Students screened for more than 30 diseases, disabilities and deficiencies
-- A trained psychologist handles mental health aspects
-- Each clinic has a trained Doctor, Psychologist, ANM and Multi-Task Worker

IMPACT:

-- A staggering 69% of the 22,000 students screened in these institutions were in the “red zone” of the Body Mass Index[4]
-- Leading to NEW Program with Special SNACK break in all Schools and FREE Healthy Snacks with HIGHLY Successfuly Results

Pilot Project Results

Group mental health sessions showed that many students suffered from post-pandemic stress, bullying, low self-esteem, hormonal changes, and identity issues[5]

“The earlier the mental health issues are identified and addressed, the better it is for the youngsters.” - Dr Manish Kandpal, Psychologist at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital[6]

  • A staggering 69% of the 22,000 students were found in the “red zone” of BMI,highlighting potential risks pertaining to health and nutrition[4:1]
  • 15% of the students had decreased vision [5:1]
  • 1,274 were diagnosed and provided with spectacles with the help of a non-profit organisation [5:2]
  • In 1st 3 weeks itself, psychologists had identified anger management, loneliness, self-identity issues, academic and peer pressure and relationships as the main problems among the youngsters

What is a School Clinic?

"I have seen schools in various countries, this concept is not there anywhere. Besides providing routine health check-ups to students, the clinics will also offer counselling services to address issues related to the mental well-being of children. Every six months, the students will undergo a health check up,” - Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodiya [7]

  • The Aam Aadmi School Clinics are an extension of Mohalla Clinics[3:1]
  • Aim is to provide bi-annual health checkups of school students[3:2]
  • These clinics will help students to stay fit both mentally and physically[7:1]
  • The project seeks to bring healthcare for children to their respective schools across Delhi[7:2]

Need for School Clinic?[6:1]

"For the first time, the focus will be on mental well-being of children along with physical health checkups.A healthy mind will contribute to a healthy society and, ultimately, a healthier nation" - Mr Satyendra Jain[8]

-- Many students stuggle to control their emotions & competitive stress
-- Students avoid discussing mental health issues at home

  • During the teenage years, there are a lot of uncertainties and it is a competitive period. Children are worried about the future
  • Friends and families of students don't understand the mental health problems of the student
  • Mental health is not the priority for the people in the lower income group
  • Many students are somehow aware of the need to address their problems and are willing to discuss these in groups

Special with School Clinic?

  • This is first time in the national capitol [3:3]
  • In collaboration with the Hans Foundation [3:4]
  • Carefully crafted to cater to young students, keeping in mind their physical and mental health needs [9]
  • Mobile mental health units (MMHUs) from the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS) [10]
  • Mental health support for students within the school premises[3:5]
  • A trained psychologist will complement initiative of the happiness curriculum[3:6]
  • Teacher and parents too can avail the facility[11][12]

How does School Clinics function?

30 students screened each day and there is adequate supply of medicines for them[7:3]

  • It is a state-of-the-art clinic built within the premises of the school itself[3:7]
  • Each clinic will have a trained doctor, a 'School Health Clinic Assistant' or nurse(auxiliary nursing midwife), psychologist and Multi-Task Worker. [3:8][10:1][8:1]
  • One doctor will be available for every five clinics and will visit each once a week[7:4]
  • In case of a physical health issue, the School Health Clinic Assistant will refer the student to the doctor, whereas to the psychologist in case the student has any mental health concerns. [3:9][7:5]
  • The list of medicines has been curated keeping in mind the specific needs of adolescents, with a primary focus on anaemia, malnutrition, refractive errors, worm infestation, and menstrual hygiene[7:6]
  • Group counselling sessions, and also secure individual counselling when required[6:2]

What do the participants say?

It took some time for me to trust the psychologist in our clinic and panicked during the first session, but now I look forward to talking openly about my emotions. - Sakshi Yadav

“We have zeroed in on the main problems of the students and are giving medicines as per requirement. We will assess their health again after 6 months," Dr Priyangshu Gupta, who is in charge of 5 AASCs

Video Coverage

How School Health Clinics are directly benefiting the students

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-GXJQmJmEU

Tour of School Clinics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqRPVyGl53g

REFERENCES:

  1. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/oct/12/school-health-clinics-an-amalgamation-of-health-and-education-2370688.html ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. https://delhiplanning.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/Planning/chapter_16_0.pdf ↩︎

  3. https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2022/Mar/08/delhi-govt-launchesaam-aadmi-school-clinics-for-mental-physical-wellbeing-ofstudents-2427626.html#:~:text=The Aam Aadmi School Clinic,psychologist and Multi-Task Worker. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. https://www.magzter.com/stories/newspaper/Hindustan-Times/GOVT-SURVEY-SHOWS-15K-DELHI-SCHOOL-STUDENTS-AT-HEALTH-RISK ↩︎ ↩︎

  5. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/govt-survey-shows-15k-delhi-school-students-at-health-risk-101702232020774.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/baby-step-towards-better-mental-health-school-clinics-give-confidence-to-kids/articleshow/90650277.cms ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  7. https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/delhi-health-clinics-launched-at-20-government-schools-1922027-2022-03-08 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  8. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/health-clinics-opened-in-20-delhi-govt-schools-101646703349054.html ↩︎ ↩︎

  9. https://www.shiksha.com/news/aam-aadmi-school-clinics-at-delhi-government-schools-to-screen-30-students-per-day-blogId-84947 ↩︎

  10. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/20-govt-schools-to-get-mental-health-units-psychologists/articleshow/95386719.cms ↩︎ ↩︎

  11. https://thelogicalindian.com/good-governance/delhi-government-schools-30794 ↩︎

  12. https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/delhi-govt-launches-aam-aadmi-school-clinics20220308001244/ ↩︎