Search
+
    The Economic Times daily newspaper is available online now.

    A student commits suicide in India every hour; how can our educational system prevent this?

    Synopsis

    Society, parents, educational system need to join hands for the holistic well-being of children.

    Neerja Birla

    Founder and Chairperson, Mpower

    Neerja Birla has a B.Sc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of Derby. Mpower, her brainchild, i...Show more »

    Education is perhaps society’s most critical responsibility. Educational institutions impart knowledge to students, lay emphasis on their physical well-being and prepare them for social challenges. But unfortunately, many educational institutions and teachers are not yet fully equipped to understand the mental health issues of students.

    Psychological concerns in children are on the rise, especially behavioural issues and suicides. 12 per cent of Indian students between the age of 4 and 16 suffer from psychiatric disorders. 20 per cent show signs of mental disorders, out of which 2-5 per cent have serious concerns like autism or bi-polar disorder. Shockingly, every one hour a student commits suicide in India.

    Children and young adults have complicated emotional eco-systems that are easily afflicted by behavioural, emotional, learning or mental disorders, including – depression, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, disruptive behaviour disorders, Intellectual Disability, Autism Spectrum Disorder and ADHD.

    Depression and bi-polar disorder can be genetic and may manifest themselves in childhood itself.

    Environmental challenges lead to mental concerns as well: racial, sexual or religious discrimination, body-shaming, sexual challenges, emotional issues, low self-esteem or insecurities, family or financial problems, substance addiction, and even hormonal changes may play a part.

    A student commits suicide in India every hour; how can our educational system prevent this?

    12 per cent of Indian students between the age of 4 and 16 suffer from psychiatric disorders. (Image: Thinkstock)

    Pressure from parents to perform well in exams can affect a child’s mental health. Being bullied by other kids can act as a trigger. And the real reason behind a student’s difficulties with concentration and learning may be ADHD.

    Mental concerns often manifest themselves as poor academic performance, lack of motivation, social interaction issues with peers or teachers, and even self-harm.
    And then, they have to contend with the beast of stigma attached to mental issues.

    The solution lies in students, teachers and parents – all 3 playing an active part in ensuring mental well-being.

    In India, parents often go into denial mode when it comes to their child’s mental health, resorting to statements like, “My child has no such problems!”.

    This attitude must go. Parents must understand how fragile their children’s mental well-being is and be proactive in assessing it.

    Teachers certainly need to be trained in identifying symptoms and patterns of mental issues. For example, before scolding a child for disruptive behaviour, they could use these skills to analyse the reason behind such behaviour.

    Also, educational institutions must have psychological counselling programs in place to help students deal with their issues in confidentiality and in a comfortable environment.

    Every child’s coping mechanism is different. Hence, the counselling programs must be flexible, to cater to the needs of each child individually. If needed, a student must be referred to a mental healthcare professional for timely intervention. Treatment and recovery are definitely possible through counselling, therapy and medication.

    To ensure the holistic – physical, emotional and mental well-being of children, society must sincerely endeavour to bridge the gap in the education sector vis-à-vis mental well-being.
    (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
    Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
    ...more
    Download The Economic Times News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
    ...more
    The Economic Times

    Stories you might be interested in