Indian education system seen tackling mental health issues among students

The crushing weight of India’s education system has left students with more than just textbooks to carry. Long under scrutiny for its negative impact on student mental health, there has been a slow but steady improvement in its attempt to address and attack these issues in the past few years.

A survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Organization found that 10% of school-going children in India suffer from mental health issues, with exam-related stress being a major contributor. Often, students are evaluated solely on their performance in examinations, which can cause significant anxiety and pressure. Additionally, the emphasis on rote learning, in which students are typically expected to memorize large amounts of information without fully understanding the concepts behind them, can lead to a decrease in creativity and critical thinking.

However, in recent years there has been a notable advancement in the learning approaches of the Indian education system. The availability of mental health resources has seen an increase, from counselling services to peer mentor programs gaining considerable popularity amongst students. Alongside, experiential and holistic-based curriculums have seen much growth, with the focus veering from academic performance to overall emotional and creative development. For example, Manodarpan- an initiative by the Ministry of Education to facilitate psychosocial support for student mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak and beyond. Through webinars with experts, fitness sessions and peer to peer support, Manodarpan also provides advisory for parents, teachers, and schools.

While there is still a long way to go, the efforts being made in India to address the issue of student mental health in education are a positive step forward. By recognizing the importance of mental health and implementing policies to support students (a population at higher risk of developing mental health disorders), India is taking an important step towards sculpting the young minds of today that will be our future.