Health Dept. offers counselling services to over 92,000 students
Over the last few weeks, the State's Health Department reached out to over 92,000 students, who did not pass the Class XII and X Board examinations, to provide counselling services. Of them, closer attention was paid to 700-odd students, who were identified as 'high-risk' during the process.
In the past few years, the department has been extending counselling services to those who did not pass the board examinations through TeleMANAS call centre (14416) and State health helpline (104). According to its policy note 2025-2026, it provided stress management counselling services to 79,312 students who appeared for the board examinations, followed by referral and follow-up care for those requiring continued care in 2024.
According to official data, this year, calls were made to 39,241 students who had appeared for the Class 12 board examinations. Of them, 297 were identified as high-risk and followed up. Follow-up calls were made to 75 students. A total of six students were referred to the District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) for further care.
Similarly, calls were made to 53,722 students who had appeared for the Class 10 board examinations. Out of this, 447 students were identified as high-risk. As many as 70 follow-up calls were made, and the DMHP team was roped in to provide assistance for four students.
V. Venkatesh Mathan Kumar, psychiatrist, Institute of Mental Health, said taking support to students at such a point in time would help in more ways than one. 'We tell them that this is not a failure but a setback... When counsellors identify students as high-risk based on symptoms such as crying spells, sleeplessness, anger or facing frustrated parents, they escalate them to the clinical psychologists, who in turn, analyse if the students require counselling or immediate help. They counsel them on coping mechanisms. If not satisfactorily addressed, the DMHP is roped in,' he said.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the State's health helpline 104, TeleMANAS 14416 and Sneha's suicide prevention helpline - 044-24640050)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
9 hours ago
- The Hindu
Bihar pushes up its Ayushman Bharat health insurance coverage
Bihar is now among the Indian States leading in the enrolment of cardholders under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), with 3.94 crore Ayushman cards created till date, according to data released by the State government. It has also helped beneficiaries save over ₹1,000 crore in out-of-pocket medical expenses within a single year. Bihar is the third most populous State in the country, with about 80% rural population, and a literacy rate of less than 70%. It faces health challenges, including high infant and maternal mortality rates, malnutrition, and limited access to quality healthcare. As part of its drive to ensure maximum coverage, a recent four-day drive, from May 26-30, brought 17.38 lakh more cardholders into the Central government-run cashless health insurance scheme, offering treatment for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation for the economically weaker sections of society. Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh are the other two States that have recently indicated a high enrolment rate. The flagship health insurance scheme, launched in 2018, offers cashless healthcare treatment of up to ₹5 lakh per family per year. Initially, the State Government had adopted the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC 2011) data for implementing the AB-PMJAY scheme, Shailesh Chandra Diwakar, Administrative Officer, Bihar Swasthya Suraksha Samiti (Ayushman Bharat), said on the recent focus to expand the coverage of the Ayushman card. In February 2024, the Bihar Government adopted the National Food Security Act (NFSA) database and provided coverage to all NFSA-registered family members. 'This saw many more ration cardholders coming into the AB-PMJAY fold. More than 2.8 crore Ayushman cards were created in 2024,' Mr. Diwakar said. Besides this, the State has launched various measures, including an enhanced cash incentive of ₹15 (from ₹5) to ASHA workers involved in verified enrolments; camps at railway stations to capture those in need when people travel back into the State for festivals; and door-to-door campaigns. 'These extensive mop-up rounds are for individuals who have been left behind,' Shashank Shekhar Sinha, CEO, Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY-Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission), said. The State has also recently registered enrolment of 2.82 lakh persons under the Ayushman Vaya Vandana card (for senior citizens 70 years and above). According to the State government, the total claims paid rose from 3.03 lakh cases in FY 2023-24 to 7.52 lakh cases in FY 2024-25, and more than 2.83 crore Ayushman cards were created in 2024. A first time Ayushman card user, speaking of his enrolment, and experience with availing the treatment, said that he had had his card made only after he reached the hospital to be treated for cataract. 'Though we had heard about the Ayushman card, since we didn't need hospitalisation, we never got the card made,' Lalan Choudhary, a resident of Bihar's Nalanda district, who is now undergoing free treatment at a private healthcare facility in Gaya under the AB-PMJAY, said. 'This is a problem we are facing in the State — though people know about the card, they will enrol under the scheme often only when they seek treatment,' Mr. Diwakar added. The State is now trying to rope in eligible individuals who have not opted for the scheme. Khushi Praveen, 19, who was operated for spinal deformity 10 days ago, speaking about her use of the Ayushman card, said that she had been suffering for a nearly a year without money to secure treatment and surgery. 'Though I needed surgery, without money, there was no access to healthcare. My doctor in the private sector suggested that I get my Ayushman card and get operated. Using the card, I got surgery and am healing well now, and hope to be able to walk soon,' Ms. Praveen said. Parmilla Devi, 50, had her cataract operation performed under the scheme. 'My husband and I work as farmers and couldn't have afforded the surgery otherwise. My husband is also now planning to apply for his card also,' Ms. Devi said. Rajaram Prasad, Chief Surgeon, Gaya district, said that in Gaya district (one of the 38 districts in Bihar), which is seeing robust enrolment and use of the card, in 2024-25, a total of 18,734 people were treated in government hospitals at an expense of about ₹15 crore under the Ayushman scheme. 'Affordable, quality medical care is now no longer a distant dream for the rural population of Bihar,' Dr. Prasad said. Besides the enrolment of more individuals under the scheme, Bihar is also looking at enhancing the number of hospital service providers. Currently, over 1,100 hospitals are empanelled under the scheme in Bihar, 50% of which are private hospitals, a senior Bihar health official.
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Indian Express
Aarogya Samiksha Kendra: A single-window solution for healthcare management
The Gujarat government is set to inaugurate, in the next few days, a comprehensive health control room — Aarogya Samiksha Kendra — in Gandhinagar that will not only act as a review centre for all state and national health programmes but will also be the hub for health metrics analysis and command centre, especially in times of crisis or disasters. It will also act as a call centre facility for those seeking help from the 104 helpline as well as information on the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY). The review centre will be the long sought umbrella organisation that can issue commands down to the primary health care (PHC) level to better integrate health and medical services across the state, said a statement from the Health Department. Review of health metrics The Aarogya Samiksha Kendra will offer a platform for integration of the entire Health Department's data involving multiple metrics, including medical services, vaccination, maternal and child health, public health statistics, among others on its dashboard. This will allow senior health officials to take stock, identify gaps and implement corrective measures, and then convey them to the field health staff across one or all districts in the state. The communication module with its video conferencing facilities and click-to-dial features will enable top officials to not only pass down policy decisions to field staff and district level officers, but also call on individual officials or groups of personnel from a particular area to review progress. An official, familiar with the matter, said that this will also enable peer learning, collective brainstorming of ideas, corrective tactics and better implementation of health strategies at the ground level. Further, the kendra is also to be used for training the personnel of the Health Department. Teams from a single district or teams of one particular division from multiple districts can be called in and trained at the centre through audio-visual aids with the facilities set up at the kendra in Gandhinagar, according to the officials. Non-emergency 104 helpline The GVK-EMRI (Emergency Management and Research Institute) non-emergency call centre, with the 104 toll-free number, was moved to the new facility from Kathwada (Ahmedabad) in mid May, said an official. Another official from GVK-EMRI who runs this helpline said that the move was facilitated without dropping a single call. The call centre currently has 100 call takers with the number of people likely to increase incrementally as the operations expand gradually, according to the official. The call takers include doctors, counselors, clinical psychologists and paramedics who advise people not only on their 'sick' symptoms, but also make sure that if the patient appears to be in an emergency situation, to switch the call to the emergency centre and dispatch an ambulance to their location. Further, with an upsurge in Covid cases, the helpline also advises potential or actual Covid patients on home isolation, medication and, depending on their symptoms, ask them to visit a doctor. Health officials also said that the department wanted the kendra to be ready before monsoon as rains give rise to a lot of medical issues ranging from the spread of vector-borne diseases to pneumonia and other health problems caused in areas of flooding. Flooding also tends to disrupt vaccination processes and access to health services in under-developed districts. Monitoring of health scheme patients The call takers of the 104 helpline have also been co-opted into monitoring the vulnerable patients, enrolled in critical healthcare programmes run by the state and the Centre, including the PM-JAY programme. Pregnant women with sickle cell anemia, heart and kidney problems, weight less than 42 kg, low hemoglobin and high risk pregnancies who need to avail antenatal care and other treatment are given one-to-one calls and they are also given reminders in connection with their check-up dates. Parents of children who are underweight, malnourished or are suffering from debilitating diseases and are in treatment under the School Health Programme are called and reminded of check up and medication refill dates. This also includes vaccination programmes. High-risk TB patients undergoing treatment and patients who have experienced side effects of TB drugs during 15 days of treatment are called by the doctors. These include patients who have completed two, three, four and six months of TB treatment. Feedback and enquiries of patients undergoing treatment under PM-JAY and evaluation through the services of the helpline number has also started. Officials said that as the kendra achieves full operationality, more health services will be added to the profile. Disaster response: Command and control While the State Emergency Operations Centre (SEOC) has already been operational for years now, the Health Department had wanted its own control room to be able to direct operations in times of natural disasters or cluster infections that need continuous and real-time monitoring at the state level. With the facilities at the Aarogya Samiksha Kendra, senior health officials will be able to pass on instructions and receive updates from the ground, enabling them to make decisions in view of the changing situation on the field, according to the officials. Giving an example, a source said, 'At the time of Cyclone Tauktae (in 2021), we first evacuated all the pregnant women. This was all done by the Health Department.' Similarly, in cases of localised infections or disease clusters, health staff on the ground can be given operational guidance from this centre.
The Hindu
12 hours ago
- The Hindu
CM intervenes to help four-year-old get a free cochlear implant surgery
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has stepped in to ensure timely medical support for four-year-old Netawat Likhita Sri, who has been suffering from severe hearing loss. The Chief Minister directed officials to arrange a cochlear implant surgery for the child at the Government ENT Hospital in Hyderabad, free of cost. Likhita, once a bright and playful child who enjoyed singing and spending time with her peers, has become increasingly withdrawn due to her condition. Her parents, unable to bear the high cost of the surgery, had been seeking help for months, said a tweet from Telangana CMO on Friday evening. Responding to the family's situation, the Chief Minister instructed the Health Department to take immediate action and ensure the child receives the required treatment without delay. 'All necessary support must be extended to ensure Likhita receives the surgery and recovers fully,' he said. Dr. Anand Acharya, Superintendent of ENT Hospital, confirmed that the child and her parents are expected to arrive on Monday. 'Once they arrive, we will conduct the necessary tests before proceeding with the surgery,' he said.
