After student's suicide, govt set to launch special psychological campaign in 1,800 Ahmedabad schools
Ahmedabad City District Education Officer (DEO) Rohit Chaudhary told The Indian Express, 'The incident came as a shock to everyone and was an eye-opener. It has been decided that 1,800 schools will be covered under Project Sarthi starting this (next) Saturday. To commence with, we will train two teachers as counsellors in each school through an online session, who will in turn provide counselling services to the students.'
Project Sarthi was launched in Ahmedabad school last year which covers around 200 schools at present.
The campaign, run by non-profit organisation Namaste Life Health Care Foundation covers five issues — nutritional and healthy diet, coping with stress and exam anxiety, emotional resilience and self-confidence, awareness against mobile, social media addiction and other addictions, awareness and prevention of harassment.
A Class 12 student, who studied in Som Lalit School in Navrangpura also died by suicide by jumping from the fourth floor of the school building this week. School authorities stated that the student was allegedly suffering from depression owing to which, she had also remained on leave for a month.
Sharing more information about the campaign, the DEO said, 'As part of the intensive exercise for the 1,800 schools, online monthly sessions will start from August 2 where principals, teachers, and parents associated with the schools will be covered. Once a week, through an online guidance programme, physical and mental health will be reviewed through different psychologists, sociologists, dieticians, paediatricians, and yoga experts, and efforts will be made to make them strong. Also, students will be encouraged to share any kind of problems or issues they are facing, but will be assured that their identities would not be disclosed.'
The authorities are also targeting to address issues, including stress caused by suppressed emotions, peer pressure on the students related to addictions of drugs, alcohol, mobiles in the circle of friends.
Teachers of these schools will be trained so that they can identify students (who need help) and will be made aware about their roles. The DEO office also aims to have one expert-led, guided wellness session every month in all the 1,800 schools in the city, with parents and community leaders also being active participants of the same.
At present, nearly 500 principals and teachers have been trained under the programme.
Other initiatives include keeping a 'box' in some schools where students can drop psychological or other issues with the school counsellors.
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