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:
https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/delhi/2021/oct/12/school-health-clinics-an-amalgamation-of-health-and-education-2370688.html ↩︎ ↩︎
https://delhiplanning.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/Planning/chapter_16_0.pdf ↩︎
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. ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.magzter.com/stories/newspaper/Hindustan-Times/GOVT-SURVEY-SHOWS-15K-DELHI-SCHOOL-STUDENTS-AT-HEALTH-RISK ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/govt-survey-shows-15k-delhi-school-students-at-health-risk-101702232020774.html ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/baby-step-towards-better-mental-health-school-clinics-give-confidence-to-kids/articleshow/90650277.cms ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.indiatoday.in/cities/delhi/story/delhi-health-clinics-launched-at-20-government-schools-1922027-2022-03-08 ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/health-clinics-opened-in-20-delhi-govt-schools-101646703349054.html ↩︎ ↩︎
https://www.shiksha.com/news/aam-aadmi-school-clinics-at-delhi-government-schools-to-screen-30-students-per-day-blogId-84947 ↩︎
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/20-govt-schools-to-get-mental-health-units-psychologists/articleshow/95386719.cms ↩︎ ↩︎
https://thelogicalindian.com/good-governance/delhi-government-schools-30794 ↩︎
https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/delhi-govt-launches-aam-aadmi-school-clinics20220308001244/ ↩︎
