Promoting Mental Health in Schools

2 or 3 of my classmates back in the day used to frequently visit the school counselor for their own personal reasons. And as we were kids back then, we used to always look at them differently, because according to us “mental health” was never a topic of discussion in the past. And who should we blame for having that kind of a mindset ? The school? The teachers? The famous boards of India (CBSE, ICSE, State, amongst the others)?

In this case, if we look at whom to blame, the list would for sure be never ending, and instead of having to blame each other, it's better to start taking baby steps towards change. If you are someone reading this right now, and are planning on becoming a practitioner in the field such as teaching or being part of mental health and psychology, maybe try to implement these following into the education system? 

In the Indian education system, the core subjects are undoubtedly "Math, Sciences, and Social Studies." However, do we ever take the time to teach students how to handle the feelings that arise if they do not excel in these subjects, or in life in general? How can they cope with negative emotions during difficult times? Many students struggle academically, and some even face bullying, but they often lack the emotional regulation skills necessary to navigate these challenges.

As a result, we see students shutting down or becoming overly absorbed in their phones, which prevents them from expressing their problems. This indicates a significant gap in "social and emotional learning" within schools. These unchecked negative emotions can contribute to psychological issues such as anxiety and depression. To create a more supportive school environment, it is essential to provide students with reliable mental health resources and safe spaces where they can talk openly about their feelings.

Although almost every educational institution, such as schools and colleges, has a counseling faculty, these resources are often not utilized to their full potential. While it’s true that not all students need to visit a counselor at all times, we should focus on the importance of fostering connections between counselors and students. To facilitate this, it's essential to break the ice between them. This can be achieved by arranging sessions where both counselors and students can engage, either in individual or in group sessions.

The advantages of having a dedicated school counselor include the following:

1. The school counselor should not be used as a mere substitute teacher, but instead used as a “proper mental health professional” so that they can provide adequate emotional and mental health.

2. Students would have a safe space to express their emotions without fear of judgment from their peers. This is considered to be a safe space for them to be vulnerable and would be essential for their mental well-being. 

3. The school counselor could assist students in achieving their best academically.

In addition to these suggestions mentioned above, “Psychology” could be included as a core subject that can be taught in the primary years of education for the students. Just as we are taught math from the basics of the basics- such as “numbers, whole numbers, fractions”. In a similar way, the students can also be taught the basics of psychology such as the early developments, the importance of mental health, in the primary years of education for the students.

If this is implemented effectively, the following benefits could be observed:

1. Psychology as a field would receive equal recognition, similar to the other core subjects such as math, science etc. 

2. Students would have the opportunity to gain practical knowledge on this subject. And even develop their own set of emotional regulation steps/methods to maintain their mental sanity.

3. Students would gain a better understanding of themselves and discover the root causes of their reactions.

4. If the school counselors taught psychology as a subject, it could foster better communication with the counselor and the students without the presence of other faculty members. This approach can help create a more comfortable and supportive environment for students to seek guidance.This discussion can be adjusted to fit students' comfort levels, allowing them to either break into smaller groups to talk to their counselor or meet with the school counselor individually.

Subjects such as chemistry, biology or any kind of sciences are to be best taught with a lot of “practical examples and exposure”.  While it may seem far-fetched, psychology can also be taught in certain kinds of practical ways/scenarios in the schooling level. This would teach students on how to implement the theoretical aspects of psychology in a practical setting.

However, I want to clarify that I do not suggest sending students for “psychiatric observations” in clinics or hospitals. Instead, practical exposure to various types of therapies—such as expressive arts, play therapy, music therapy, drama therapy, and dance therapy—can be provided by properly trained and qualified professionals. Here are some examples of how this can be done:

1. Organizing small “drama therapy” sessions to deepen understanding of the concept through hypothetical scenarios.

2. Offering hands-on knowledge from professionals (such as psychologists, psychiatrists, or counsellors) through discussions and open platforms.

3. Applying various principles of psychology in classroom settings, such as reinforcement techniques, setting smaller, achievable goals, and implementing a reward system.

4. Finally, this is my personal favorite method that I learned during one of my internships. As a teacher, one of your primary responsibilities would be daily interaction with students. And as a teacher it’s essential to be gentle and empathetic when conversing with the students. One effective way to foster empathy and understanding, especially among primary grade students, is by using “mood trackers” (check out the image).

These exercises offer two main advantages. First, if teachers distribute these sheets daily or weekly, they can gain insights into the overall mood and emotions of the class on a particular day or week. This understanding helps teachers interact more mindfully with each child and provides opportunities to check in with them or refer them to the school counselor if necessary. Second, students become more aware of their own moods. Those who engage with the mood trackers may start to reflect on why they feel a certain way and recognize the factors influencing their behavior.

These methods would enable students to explore the field of psychology not only through textbooks but also through practical applications. Not only will children gain practical tips for self-coping mechanisms, also in the far future, it could also encourage the students to consider psychology as one of their career options.