Mental Health Education in Schools: A Necessity, Not a Choice

A teenager sits in a classroom, drowning in expectations—parents pushing for high grades, teachers demanding performance, peers competing fiercely. Feeling overwhelmed but at a loss for how to express it; counseling schools teach them algebra, history, and physics-little do they know that stress management, dealing with anxiety, and asking for help when it is all too much should also be taught.

Condition of a large number of students in India today. Suicide rates are some of the highest in this country, and student suicide is peaking. But still, mental health is an afterthought in school curricula.

The question we must ask ourselves is: Why is it that we do not prepare students to face the emotional and psychological eventualities of life, just as much as we prepare them for examinations?

The Numbers Speak for Themselves

India loses over 13,000 students to suicide every year (NCRB, 2021). That translates to more than 35 students every single day. The reasons? Academic pressure, fear of failure, family expectations, bullying, isolation, and untreated mental health conditions.

Consider the case of a 16-year-old student in Kota, which has actually become a coaching hub for students preparing for competitive examinations. He was bright, promising. But the examination pressure wore him down. No one to talk to, no coping mechanism, and no guidance for mental health. He went one day to his home and took his life. This story is not one of its kinds; it is a chain of the many like it.

Another student, a 13-year-old girl from Chennai, had been depressed after prolonged body shaming at school. She withdrew from her friends and studies, and when all her cries for help went unnoticed, she became yet another sorrowful statistic.

These are not mere statistics. These are lives lost-dreams shattered, families torn apart. But the worst part? A majority of these deaths could have been prevented.

Why Mental Health Education Is the Solution

Awareness remains useless if it isn't accompanied by action. Schools need to integrate mental health education into the curriculum as well as every other subject such as moths and science. This is why:

1. Early Identification Can Save Lives

Mental health problems generally start in youth. Ensuring that students learn to identify signs of depression, anxiety, and stress early on will allow them to seek help before it's too late.

2. Stigma Reduction

Even today, a student will shy away from speaking about mental health for fear of being called "weak" or "attention-seeking." Education normalizes such conversations and makes it fine to say, "I need help."

3. Teaching Coping Mechanisms

Instead of simply remonstrating students to "toughen up," schools must be teaching these students very useful skills like stress management, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and healthy communication.

4. Train Educators and Caregivers – Informs teachers and parents regarding recognizing signs and providing fruitful assistance.

5. Create Open Communication – Create a school environment where students feel safe discussing their struggles without negativity.

Starting at What Time?

Initiation for mental health education is to commence in primary schooling and continue until high school.

- In early years, concentrate on emotions, empathy, and basic coping skills.

- Teach about stress, mental illnesses, and resilience techniques in middle and high school.

- Before entering college, it will teach self-care, the need for therapy, and independent handling of stress.

Which Countries Have This Already?

Many countries have implemented this, and countries like:

- Finland gives importance to all students' well-being through counseling and emotional intelligence training.

- Canada made mental health programs compulsory for schools.

- United Kingdom introduces mental health awareness in primary and secondary education.

Not just this, India must have it on board before saving more lost lives.

Act now, sign the petition!

Mental health education is not a luxury; rather, it is a need. If now we do not do anything, we will lose what is left in students due to avoidable struggles.

Sign the petition here https://www.change.org/p/india-the-suicide-capital-of-the-world-mandate-mental-health-education-in-schools?recruiter=1364956294&recruited_by_id=930def20-e654-11ef-8e10-ff0fabd09c92&utm_source=share_petition&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=petition_dashboard_share_modal&utm_medium=copylink

We will together build a future where students hear, support, and empower themselves.