For their Mental Health and Well-being
KRC TIMES Desk
Union HRD Minister, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the MANODARPAN initiative of the HRD Ministry to provide psychosocial support to students for their Mental Health and Well-being in New Delhi today. Minister of State for HRD, Sanjay Dhotre also graced the occasion. Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Amit Khare; Secretary, School Education and Literacy Anita Karwal and senior officials of the Ministry were present on the occasion. Anita Karwal made a detailed presentation about the initiative at the event.
As part of MANODARPAN initiative, Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched a National Toll-free Helpline (8448440632), a special web page of MANODARPAN on the portal of HRD Ministry, and a Handbook on MANODARPAN.
Speaking on the occasion, the Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ said that COVID -19 is understandably a challenging time for everyone around the world. This global pandemic is not only serious medical concern but also brings mixed emotions and psycho-social stress for all. With a specific focus on children and adolescents, there are emerging mental health concerns that are often reported in such situations. Children and adolescents may be more vulnerable and may experience a heightened level of stress, anxiety and fearfulness, along with a range of other emotional and behavioural issues.
Pokhriyal informed that the HRD Ministry has felt that while it is important to focus on continuing education on the academic front, the mental well-being of the students also needs to be given equal importance. So, Ministry has taken an initiative, named, ‘MANODARPAN’ covering a wide range of activities to provide Psychosocially Support to students for their Mental Health & Well-being during the COVID outbreak and beyond.
He further informed that a Working Group, having experts from the fields of education, mental health and psychosocial issues as its members have been set up to monitor and promote the mental health issues and concerns of students and to facilitate providing of support to address the mental health and psychosocial aspects during and after COVID-19 lockdown, through counselling services, online resources and helpline.
The Minister informed that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launched the ATMANIRBHAR BHARAT ABHIYAN and, the MANODARPAN initiative has been included in it, as a part of strengthening human capital and increasing productivity and efficient reform and initiatives for the Education sector.
The Web-page contains advisory, practical tips, posters, podcasts, videos, do’s and don’ts for psychosocial support, FAQs and online query system. A National Toll-free helpline (8448440632) has also been set up. This unique helpline shall be managed by a pool of experienced counsellors/ Psychologists and other mental health professionals and will continue beyond the COVID-19 situation. Through this helpline, tele-counselling will be provided to the students to address their mental health and psychosocial issues.
The following components are included in the MANODARPAN initiative:
· Advisory Guidelines for students, teachers and faculty of School systems and Universities along with families.
· Web page on the MHRD website, which will carry advisory, practical tips, posters, videos, do’s and don’ts for psychosocial support, FAQs and online query system.
· National level database and directory of counsellors at School and University level whose services can be offered voluntarily for Tele-Counselling Service on the National Helpline.
· National Toll-free Helpline by the MHRD for a countrywide outreach to students from school, universities and colleges. This unique helpline shall be manned by a pool of experienced counsellors/ Psychologists and other mental health professionals and will continue beyond the COVID-19 situation.
· Handbook on Psychosocial Support: Enriching Life skills & Wellbeing of Students’ to be published online. The booklet will include FAQs, Facts & Myths and will also cover ways and means to manage emotional and behavioural concerns (from young children to college youth) during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.
· Interactive Online Chat Platform for contact, counselling and guidance by psychologists and other mental health professionals which will be available for students, teachers, and families during COVID-19 and beyond.
· Webinars, audio-visual resources including videos, posters, flyers, comics, and short films to be uploaded as additional resource materials on the webpage. Crowdsourcing from students all over the country will be encouraged as peer support.
