Mumbai: With schools set to reopen, teachers being trained to identify mental health issues in children

Staff of Swami Vivekanand School at Gorai, Borivli, cleaning the premises in preparation for classes. Pics/Nimesh Dave

Does a student show excessive irritability? Or has completely lost interest in school and activities? Is anyone acting inappropriate for their age? Or is someone staying aloof? - with such questions, teachers have to identify mental health issues faced by students and then work to resolve those with help from school counsellors. As schools start on Monday, after 1.5 years of online learning from home, staff members are getting ready to deal with the mental and emotional health of their students.

As schools will resume partially, the focus is beyond academics. While teachers are trained to identify children facing issues and to help resolve them, webinars are being planned with parents as well as students, to understand their state of mind. Schools are also preparing extensive plans on mental health in order to create a safe space for students to talk. The idea is to help them ease into the new normal, which is why focus will be more on socio-emotional well-being.

Facing emotional challenges

"Emotional challenges are going to be more important than academics. It is not only about staying away from school for 1.5 years but also the difficult time that we have all been through. Children may have lost their loved ones or have a sick person at home, their parents could have lost jobs or faced financial loss. Those starting school are older children and they understand these issues at home. They may be carrying that emotional baggage. But some may not know that they are facing any such issues. There are four key-word for teachers - compassion, patience, flexibility and support," said Priya Rajwade, principal of the Podar International School in Powai, where they are going to hold surveys with students initially to understand their state of mind. At the same time, the school is helping teachers understand mental health through seminars with experts on topics such as how to identify issues, how to gradually help the child out of mental trauma, where professional intervention is required, etc.

Meera Isaacs, dean, Cathedral and John Connon School and Priya Rajwade, principal, Podar International School, Powai

"Social and mental well-being of children is very important. Some children have become withdrawn. While some have become very irritable at home, some have become very comfortable. With many people in some households, everybody is getting on everybody's nerves. Mental health of teachers is equally important along with students," said Meera Isaacs, dean and CEO at the Cathedral and John Connon School.

Maintaining safety norms

Veena Shrivastava, principal of Gopi Birla School, said, "While students are going to face mental health issues, it is also important to acknowledge that even as they come back, we need to keep them away from each other to ensure social distancing. It is also important to help children understand the importance of keeping calm amid this excitement."

At Billabong High International School, Malad they have launched a Centre of Wellbeing which is active throughout the pandemic to provide students with a safe space to talk on all topics - from if anybody is infected at home to stress due to loss of academics. Dr Madhu Singh, principal at the school, said, "This initiative is designed to create a safe space for children's internal growth with a focus on building mindfulness and strengthening the mental health and overall well-being of staff and students. Through the initiative our students, teachers and staff will have access to experts and webinars by professionals. The initiative includes powerful support tools like the launch of a helpline for counseling for both students and employees."

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Day in October when schools in Mumbai will reopen