What is Mental Health? 

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as “ a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community. Some of the areas that mental health has an impact on are:

• Academic Performance
• Productivity at work
• Development of healthy personal relationships
• Crime
• Substance abuse

Maanasik svaasthy utana hee mahatvapoorn hai jitana ki shaareerik svaasthy. Jab aap apane pair ko chot pahunchaate hain aur usamen se khoon nikalata hai, to aap dekh sakate hain ki aap dard mein hain. Lekin, aapakee maanasik svaasthy samasyaon ko dekha nahin ja sakata hai, phir bhee ve kisee vyakti ke jeevan aur kalyaan ko gambheer nukasaan pahuncha sakatee hain.

Mental health concerns lead to various social concerns such as unemployment, poverty, broken families, drug abuse, and related crime. They can cause medically unfit patients with depression to have the worst outcome at work, and decrease immune functioning. 

What can a school do? 

Schools are a place for children to learn and grow. Their mental health needs to be one such area. 

So, it’s important for teachers to provide students with the resources and support they need regarding mental health. 

Here are eight ways to promote mental health awareness in the school:

Create awareness about Mental Health

You know that mental health is still seen as taboo and something that people feel embarrassed to talk about. People also feel judged if they explain their problems. Schools ko saamaajik vigyaan aur vigyaan ke paathon mein is par charcha karake, ise sabhaon mein sambodhit karake, aur vishv maanasik svaasthy divas jaise jaagarookata divas manaakar, chhaatron ko yah bataane ke lie ki ve akele nahin hain, maanasik svaasthy par dhyaan kendrit karana chaahie.

You could also invite organizations such as Shivtensity,  or charities helping people with mental health concerns in your locality to the school to give talks about their work and address mental health. 

Promote self-esteem

Chhaatron ko yah samajhane mein madad karen ki sangharshon ke baare mein sochane se behatar hai ki unhen sulajha liya jae, aur kuchh asaphalataen aparihaary hain isalie unaka saamana karen. Work on boosting self-confidence by supporting good decision-making, assertiveness, perseverance, and self-determination.

Encourage students to eat healthily and stay fit.

Chinta aur tanaav ko door karane ke lie unhen aautalet pradaan karen. Khel aur dhyaan jaisee shaareerik gatividhi chinta aur tanaav ko door karane mein madad karatee hai aur ek chhaatr ke samagr maanasik svaasthy par adbhut kaam karatee hai. Help students understand the importance of taking care of themselves. Teaching them about a balanced diet is not enough- show them how to balance meals and get the nutrition that they need. 

Create policies to help students

Promote school policies that support mental health, such as bullying prevention, sex education, and stress management. Eemaanadaaree ke saath khula sanchaar aur bina kisee nirnay ke chhaatron ke saath baatacheet shuroo karane aur yah jaanane mein madad karata hai ki kya ve pareshaanee mein hain.

Educate Faculty, Parents, and Students on Early Signs and Symptoms

School samudaay mein sabhee ke lie maanasik svaasthy samasyaon ke lakshanon aur lakshanon ko jaanana mahatvapoorn hai, taaki ve un logon kee madad kar saken jo sangharsh kar rahe hain.

Small things like teaching a lesson on the importance of mental health, having posters around the school that serve as mental health check-in ‘reminders’, and making it normal for students to talk to a counsellor can help. 

For parents, schools can organize a mental health evening where they can ask questions and become aware of how mental health is important for their children. Maanasik svaasthy ke prati jitanee adhik jaagarookata paida hogee, kisee ko bhee maun mein peedit hone kee sambhaavana utanee hee kam hogee.

Having interactive sessions for students and faculty with mental health professionals can give them a safe space to talk about signs of distress, how they can help their friends, and more. 

Create a  Safe and Positive School Environment 

Very few schools in India have procedures already in place, so we need to focus more on improving the learning environment and ensuring there is an atmosphere of safety and comfort.

Pahachaanen ki jab chhaatr sakaaraatmak nirnay lete hain, jaise ki ek sahapaathee kee madad karana, ek doosare ke prati karuna dikhaana, ya pareeksha ke lie kathin adhyayan karana. phir aise dayaalu kaaryon ko puraskrt karake shikshak sakaaraatmakata aur samarthan ka maahaul banaane mein madad kar sakate hain.

Encourage Social Time in Students and Faculty

Social time is crucial for students to function properly and refresh their minds. Schools can schedule 30 minutes where students can be social and focus on something other than studying, which will help them make friends and interact with each other. Yah niyamit break time ke atirikt hona chaahie taaki ve apane saathiyon ke saath rozamarra ke vishay, apane shauk, vartamaan ghatanaon ke baare mein baat kar saken ya ek saath ek kaary poora kar saken. You can use this time to encourage connections and get students to talk to each other and interact with people they wouldn’t usually talk to.

Have an Open-Door Policy

Students should know they can come and talk to someone in the school about any concerns they have.  Let the students know that you are always there to listen. Appointing a counselor for students to reach out to, and making it a very normal thing can help with this. 

Lastly, schools mein maanasik svaasthy ke prati jaagarookata badhaana bahut mahatvapoorn hai kyonki yuva chhaatr pratidin maanasik svaasthy ke muddon se gambheer roop se prabhaavit hote hain. Unhen apane aantarik muddon se nipatane kee is prakriya ke maadhyam se maargadarshan karane ke lie ek pranaalee par bharosa karane aur soochana ke uchit srot kee aavashyakata hai. 

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