TMREIS initiates a comprehensive mental health program for its students

In a first, the Telangana Minority Residential Schools (TMREIS), have embarked on a plan to set up a comprehensive, Mental Health program for the over 1.3 lacs students across 200 plus schools and colleges in the state.

TMREIS has tied up with Helping Hand Foundation (HHF), a health care NGO to help build capacity and to run the helpline services.

In the post Covid scenario, mental health of students has taken a toll across all age groups leaving the students vulnerable to an array of mental health issues not only in TMREIS but all schools/colleges in general across the board. Examination induced stress, anxiety of performance, child sexual abuse, tendency for suicide & behavioural issues are being commonly encountered in schools.

The key components of the Mental Health program would be to first build capacity, establish a helpline, provide suggestion boxes at each school and to conduct live skills sessions on an ongoing basis.

About 250 teachers have been identified as counsellors after a careful selection process. They have undergone an extensive orientation program conducted by HHF, under Dr Lavanya Mirala, Senior Clinical Psychologist with HHF. Post the orientation the teacher-counsellors will be able to identify signs and symptoms of students having any mental health related issue, which they will immediately red-flag to a dedicated helpline.

As a part of the plan, suggestion boxes will be kept in each school along with displays of helpline numbers. Students are being encouraged to drop a note in the boxes on their grievances, feedback, and any mental health-related issue.

The teacher counsellors will open the boxes and address the issues reported on a regular basis, wherever necessary, counselling sessions will be done by a team of qualified psychologists through the helpline. The helpline can also be used by students directly to report any issue they are facing.

The teacher-counsellors will also conduct life skill sessions with students on handling examination related stress, tackling anxiety and feeling of hopelessness etc on site in the school classrooms & provide fortnightly feedback to the helpline on the student's mental health.

Releasing the mental health awareness poster, B Shafiullah IFS, Secretary of TMREIS said "this is one of first structured mental health programs by a government residential school and with proper training and a helpline, student's mental issues will be promptly addressed.