Stress management, digital life navigation on CISCE 3-tier plan for schoolkids’ mental health well-being | Kolkata News

Ahead of World Mental Health Day on Oct 10 Kolkata: From stress management to handle academic pressure better to dealing with digital life, the CISCE has planned a three-tier engagement framework ahead of World Mental Health Day on Oct 10.The council issued a circular to 3,300 affiliated schools to hold discussions, based on four themes—mental health, emotional well-being, resilience, and supportive school environments— between Oct 4 and Oct 31 to promote mental health well-being.The circular asked schools to create a systemic mechanism through classroom conversations incorporating local feedback and suggestions. .Schools will conduct a structured 40-45-minute classroom discussion each week for students of classes VI to XII. The programme, to be held over four weeks, will have weekly themes. Student stress and academic pressure is the first week’s theme, while emotional well-being, digital life and positive relationships will be discussed in the second week. Drug and substance abuse and healthy choices are the third week’s theme and in the fourth week, the topic of discussion will be on building resilience and seeking help.The circular, signed by Joseph Emmanuel, chief executive and secretary, read, “With expert guidance, participants will work towards developing a Student Mental Health and Well-being Charter and a student well-being index, translating student voices and regional findings into a framework for future action.”The circular instructed school heads to designate a teacher coordinator to manage the initiative. To encourage schools to participate, the council will publish the 10 most outstanding school-based best-practice submissions in a national compendium.School administrators and educators welcomed the initiative, highlighting the importance of structured guidelines in addressing everyday youth crises. Mousumi Saha, principal of National English School, said, “This initiative is unique and timely planned. We have council-recognised senior teachers who look after students’ mental health well-being, we meet parents from time to time to discuss their wards’ mental health. But when the council makes focused plans, it lends extra weight.”Terence John, director of education and academic director of Julien Day Group of Schools, said, “We used to hold counseling sessions. The way the council has designed the plan, it addresses issues we face regularly. Now, exams are on at our school. We will sit down with this after the tests get over.”