The Current Status of Child and Adolescent Mental Health
There is a growing concern about the prevalence of mental health issues among children and young adolescents. Existing literature has reported the prevalence of Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) disorders in the Indian context The National Mental Health Survey, 2016 reported the overall prevalence of mental health disorders among 13- to 17-year-olds is 7.3%. A significant portion of adolescents in India struggle with mental health illness including agoraphobia (1.7%), depressive disorders (2.6%), and anxiety disorders (1.8%). These issues have a significant influence on society as a whole, highlighting the urgent need for increased awareness and interventions. It is critical to understand that the general population faces a startling 95% treatment gap for serious mental disorders, with major predominance showing up in common problems like depressive disorders (88%) and substance abuse (22%). The need for urgent societal action to address mental health is highlighted by this obvious treatment disparity. When it comes to mental health education and awareness, adolescents in India stand out as a particularly neglected demographic, highlighting the need for extensive efforts to bridge this gap.
School psychologists are essential resources in educational organisations due to the growing prevalence of child and adolescent mental health issues. By performing assessments, delivering counselling, and providing support to students dealing with mental health issues, they can play a crucial part in early detection and intervention. In addition, school psychologists can work with educators, parents, and administrators to design and execute thorough mental health education and awareness programmes that could increase understanding, lessen stigma, and foster good emotional well-being.
Role of Government and Educational Organizations
Various government departments and ministries work together to address the concerns around mental health issues. Some of the policies adopted to improve the psychological well-being of young children and adolescents include the National Education Policy (NEP), the Mental Health Act, and the National Mental Health Policy; the District Mental Health Program provides generic psychiatric care without any emphasis on children’s mental health. Other initiatives such as the National Adolescent Health Strategy (Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram) emphasise the holistic development of adolescents.
Despite the level of concern around the mental health needs of children and adolescents, the current government legislation is the driving force of collaborative working between different educational organisations and mental health programs. The District Mental Health Program's selection and training of peer educators—two male and two female educators per village or 1,000 residents—under the direction of designated Primary Health Centres (PHCs) is a crucial undertaking. These peer educators lead interactive workshops on adolescent health, plan occasions like Adolescent Health Day, and direct young people to readily available resources like AFHCs and helplines.
Simultaneously, the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuroscience (NIMHANS) carried out activities on a more moderate scale, concentrating on a training scheme intended to improve the psychological health of school-age children. With regard to this paradigm, evaluations were conducted with educators, learners, parents, decision-makers, and mental health specialists. Programs like the "teachers' orientation programme" and "school-based campaigns," are some ongoing initiatives that seek to enhance connections between students, classmates, and teachers.
Role of Schools and School Psychologists
On a micro-scale, schools are the potential settings to offer a safe environment for implementing interventions and improving the mental well-being of students. Two key professionals who work with students are school/educational psychologists and teachers. School psychologists have applied professionals who are actively involved in educational settings and are trained to provide a flexible range of support to students. Schools and school psychologists have recognised a range of adaptable roles they can play in educational settings and how they positively influence learning outcomes, socio-emotional abilities, and emotional health.
Furthermore, a study reported that the interaction between family and communities affects the mental well-being of young students. Furthermore, a similar study aimed at grouping procedures in the classroom to uncover successful educational strategies for fostering both academic excellence and social integration improvements in young students with the help of school staff and psychologists.
Additionally, the involvement of teachers and school management in the delivery of interventions through behavioural, physical, and mindfulness strategies could help promote the mental health needs of young students. For example, the 'Celebrating Strengths' revolutionary strategy for schools in the United Kingdom became increasingly popular in schools. Appraisals to students that dwell in a number of group celebrations and stories deftly woven into the academic curriculum, this programme encourages both teachers and students to explore their unique character qualities.
Concurrently, the BRIDGE Intervention program was introduced in a classroom. This program encouraged teamwork within the school environment. It aimed to improve interactions between teachers and students, as well as among peers. The results showed a positive influence and became more common due to better behaviour management and increased learning productivity among young students.
The Way Forward
Decisions about the relevance of the mental health needs of students are crucial for educational systems and are central to both mental health and educational professionals. Educational organisations face challenges in regard to the availability of school psychologists, appropriate mental health assessment, and diagnosis of mental health disorders among Indian educational organisations.
Existing government initiatives aim to improve adolescents' health but somehow are inadequate to address the mental health concerns of children and adolescents. Schools and community organisations are potentially safe settings where we can address mental health concerns and likewise adapt to have a cascade effect against stigma, discrimination, seeking help among young students affected by psycho-social issues, and other determinants such as family and peers. A well-structured initiative both at the micro and macro level will be able to address the mental health epidemic that we as a community are facing.
Additionally, there is a significant research and practice gap in mental health practices and interventions in educational organisations. It is recognized that within the given prevalence of mental health issues among young adults there is an alarming need for research and adequate school-based psychological training programs in the Indian educational sector. A well-established concern for schools is the availability of trained school psychologists amongst other factors such as the training of school staff. Co-creating safe spaces within the school management system with well-trained teachers and support staff could positively influence not only the mental health of young students but eventually trigger holistic development into adulthood.
Jasleen Kaur
