Haryana Launches Comprehensive School Mental Health Initiative for Students in Classes 6 to 12, ETEducation

Chandigarh: Repeated incidents involving students in schools have prompted the Haryana government to plan a structured mental health support system, focusing on early identification of psychological distress, counselling and timely professional intervention.Under the proposed SAATH project, the state plans to cover students of classes 6th to 12th in 200 govt schools, with examination stress, bullying, depression, anxiety and digital addiction among the key concerns.Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family welfare, Dr Sumita Misra outlined the initiative, which will bring together the health and school education departments, teachers, counsellors, parents and student volunteers to create a school-level support network.The health department has trained 122 counsellors, who will coordinate with two designated teachers in each of the 200 schools, creating a network of around 400 trained teachers.The programme will follow an age-specific approach. For classes VI to VIII, the focus will be on emotional changes, puberty, examination anxiety, bullying, peer rejection and communication difficulties with parents. For senior students, it will address board examination pressure, competitive entrance tests, career uncertainty, peer pressure, body-image concerns, substance-use risks and emotional exhaustion.A five-stage identification and referral mechanism will begin with class teachers observing behavioural changes and recording interventions. Student health ambassadors will facilitate peer awareness, while trained teachers and health department counsellors will provide support and counselling within their professional competencies.Students requiring specialised intervention will be referred to designated AFLC (Adolescent friendly health clinics) clinics for assessment by clinical psychologists. Those who need psychiatric care will be referred to mental health clinics for evaluation and treatment.The project will also sensitise parents through parent-teacher meetings, helping them recognise changes in their children’s behaviour, sleep, mood and academic performance. Student health ambassadors will act only as peer-support facilitators and will not undertake diagnosis or treatment.