Here's why schools need to pay more attention to depression amongst teenagers
| Feb 25, 2019, 16:31 IST
Many B-town celebrities have come forward with stories about facing depression and having mental issues in the recent past. While owing to them, lots of people in the country have found the courage to face their mental issues and talk about having them, one section of society that still suffers silently are children. Adolescents between the ages of 13-17 have the highest suicide rate in the country and at least 10 million children in India suffer from mental health issues. This alone is alarming enough for their parents to start paying more attention to them.
However, when it comes to children, schools should also take up equal responsibility in ensuring that they address these mental issues faced by the children. As many as 67% of the students in India are absolutely clueless about what they need to do about their mental issues, a survey found. Mental health counsellors are now suggesting that schools should also offer a mental health curriculum.
“These sensitive issues are rarely addressed in schools and within families, which leads to unaddressed health issues such as depression, anxiety, or other conditions leading to behavioural problems at home and school, increased participation in risk-taking behaviours, such as tobacco, alcohol and drug use, bullying, missing school, and underachievement in schools,” said the survey lead.
“The failure to recognize and address mental health problems in children and adolescents is a serious public health issue given the multi-directional linkages between mental health conditions and other health, educational, social and development problems,” said another psychiatrist. Stay tuned for more updates.
However, when it comes to children, schools should also take up equal responsibility in ensuring that they address these mental issues faced by the children. As many as 67% of the students in India are absolutely clueless about what they need to do about their mental issues, a survey found. Mental health counsellors are now suggesting that schools should also offer a mental health curriculum.
“These sensitive issues are rarely addressed in schools and within families, which leads to unaddressed health issues such as depression, anxiety, or other conditions leading to behavioural problems at home and school, increased participation in risk-taking behaviours, such as tobacco, alcohol and drug use, bullying, missing school, and underachievement in schools,” said the survey lead.
“The failure to recognize and address mental health problems in children and adolescents is a serious public health issue given the multi-directional linkages between mental health conditions and other health, educational, social and development problems,” said another psychiatrist. Stay tuned for more updates.