School and Mental Health Education
School is the “gateway” for a child to learn and grow for all round development in social, behavioral and emotional aspects. A child spending few hours in a school not only grasps academic knowledge but other social skills too. School plays a major role in the formation of the personality of an individual. Hence let us see what role school can play in the mental health development of an individual.
1. Identifying childhood disorders/Behavioral problem
A parent may not be able to identify any shortcomings in the developmental stage at home due to ignorance or other reasons. At school a well trained teacher can identify the deviation at the earliest. Early Intervention child care program needs to be mandatory for any school. At the earliest any deviation /delay is identified further steps can be taken by a professional to guide the parents as well as school.
2. Behavioral issues
A child throwing temper tantrums, violent behavior, having destructive ideas can be rectified at the earlier stage by understanding the root cause. Parents might ignore such things in the name of pampering and ignoring. A child may be having such behavioral problems due to inattention at home or family dysfunction. By providing guidance and support from the school parents will learn the right parenting skill and make changes in
a) Communication style with family members as well as with the child
b) Lifestyle habits
c) Understanding the need of the child
3. School as social support
The social support provided by school develops the personality of a child. Many behaviors of children can be mould by the support of school. A good behavior is reinforced by giving tangible or intangible gifts. Tangible gift are scholarship, Awards, prizes, books and other student related gift which they treasure for their entire life. Each time the child or person remembers the gift it reminds the occasion, event and reason for getting it. In many situations intangible gift are memorable to mould the character and behavior of a child. By appreciating the child in the assembly for a good deed reinforces the act. Similarly providing badge, claps, star chart in the class room etc are intangible gift.
Recognition and Acknowledgement of any kind of good qualities in a student reinforces such qualities.
4.Role model
School teachers are Role model for a child. It is commonly seen that a child enacts the teachers in many aspects. By observing the behavior, attitude, mannerism, compassion, love and acceptance of a teacher the child learns to adapt such qualities.
5. Prevention of Depression and Anxiety disorder
It is said that one out of five children are either having symptoms of depression or suffering from anxiety disorder. This can be due to various reasons. Rather than labeling or ignoring such children school can take preventive steps by guiding proper alternatives. School sport activities, environmental awareness, creative activities, science club etc will be a good let out for children. School can unlock their hidden potential to direct them in an interesting field. In spite of setting time children can be encouraged to utilize the resource of their interest in weekends or free time. This will enable them to excel in their interesting field as well as to overcome any disorder.
6.Confidence and Self Esteem
A child needs confidence and self esteem to survive in any kind of life situation. We are in the threshold of many crises which needs Education with good attitude and character. In the present generation there is no lack of skilled people in any field. But Education with good mental health is the need of time.
In order to execute many of these options any school has to be flexible in the rules and regulations. This is a decision to be taken by the school authorities together with parents, educationist and concerned departments. A child in his life time may not be using all the academic lessons which he learnt but the inspiration, love, confidence, self esteem, behavior is an asset given as gift by the school. This is high time for schools to make amendments to bring a drastic change in our society.
