Mangaluru: Early detection of mental health concerns among students will assist in providing necessary intervention, said Anandh K, CEO of Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat.
He emphasised this aspect during the inauguration of a mental health training workshop for high school teachers on Tuesday. Anandh highlighted that teachers play a crucial role in identifying mental health issues in students at an early stage, which greatly enhances the effectiveness of treatment. He also stressed the significance of promptly identifying underlying problems when students' academic performance declines.
The event was presided over by Dr HR Thimmaiah, district health officer, who pointed out that even seemingly small incidents can have a traumatic effect on children. He attributed the rising prevalence of mental health issues to the transition from joint to nuclear families. Thimmaiah encouraged teachers to act as counsellors through the Manosthairya programme, an initiative by the Dakshina Kannada zilla panchayat to educate students about mental health and offer counselling when required. The programme was initiated in 2022 in response to the increasing cases of depression and suicide among students.
Venkatesha Subraya Patagara, DDPI of Dakshina Kannada, advised teachers to leave personal issues outside the school environment and concentrate on reducing students' stress and problems while at school. He noted that the Manosthairya programme, which has been operating successfully, identified numerous mental health issues among students.
Dr Sudarshan, implementation officer of the District Mental Health Programme, remarked that mental health issues among children have intensified recently, with increased mobile usage, absenteeism, academic setbacks and suicide cases. He stressed the vital role of early detection and the importance of training teachers to provide counselling to address these issues. The workshop included Dr Supriya Hegde, head of the psychiatry department at Father Muller Medical College, as a resource person.