By investing in mental health education, we are developing a generation that puts mental health first
Posted Date – 12:30 AM, Wed – 6/7/23
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By Cherish Mundhra, Moitrayee Das
Hyderabad: As a society, we are growing exponentially in everything from artificial intelligence to space exploration, from investing in another planet to finding a cure for HIV, yet we neglect one of the most fundamental aspects of our lives: mental health . APJ Dr Abdul Kalam said the future of our country depends on the quality of our youth, and the quality of our youth depends on the quality of their education.
Today, we teach our children about sex education, gender identity, and goal-setting, but we fail to equip them with the tools and knowledge to help them navigate their complex emotional and psychological worlds. India has the largest number of children and adolescents in the world with a population of over 434 million (Hossian & Purohit, 2019). This begs the question: why isn’t mental health education an integral part of the school curriculum?
amazing stats
The National Mental Health Survey conducted in 2015-16 revealed the shocking statistics that around 15% of Indian adults require immediate intervention for various mental health issues and that one in 20 Indians suffers from depression syndrome (NIMHANS, 2016). This is also backed by the World Health Organization, which concluded that depression is the second leading cause of death among 15-29 year olds. Student suicide is another widespread problem in India with the number of suicides increasing from 1,29,887 in 2017 to 1,64,033 in 2021 (National Crime Records Bureau).
Generation Z, the digital natives, face enormous stress due to constant information overload and the growing influence of social media, as well as many other distractions in their daily lives. Studies have shown that excessive use of social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat can increase anxiety, depression, and loneliness among students (Smith, 2019).
It brings back the question of why mental health education is not integral to the school curriculum. Schools are the main institutional structure in which children spend most of their time. From building peer relationships and learning about social interaction to academic achievement, schools shape children into individuals who will contribute to their communities. A 2016 study in Madhya Pradesh showed a disturbing finding that high school students had a higher prevalence of depression (Sakthivel et al., 2021).
call for change
It’s time for teachers and parents to stop throwing emotions out of their kids by saying “ye bacho ko nahi hota” (this won’t happen to kids). The Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2017 found that 1 in 7 people, approximately 197.3 million Indians, experience some form of mental health problem. The same study also showed a significant increase in the incidence of mental illness.
As we teach students addition, subtraction and calculus to form a foundation, within a similar framework, mental health lessons can be implemented during the critical stages of adolescence, perhaps starting in grades 5-6, when major changes in a student’s life begin In this way, we can slowly and steadily guide and equip children with the necessary resources and knowledge to know when and where to seek guidance.
We can start small by discussing the basics of mental health, self-awareness, resilience, and emotional intelligence. Interventions focused on mindfulness training and emotional literacy can help students develop emotions and learn effective ways to manage them (Colomeischi et al., 2022). Likewise, various social-emotional learning programs have demonstrated their effectiveness in enhancing self-awareness, empathy, and self-regulation skills that help students form meaningful connections with others (Colomeischi et al., 2022).
challenges remain
Empowering children with mental health literacy not only promotes their personal growth and resilience, but also helps build a society that values mental health and actively works to break down the barriers of stigma surrounding mental health challenges. By investing in their mental health education, we empower Gen Z to be the driving force behind positive change, creating a generation that puts mental health first and champions a world of empathy, compassion and inclusion.
