Disclaimer: The following article may contain words and themes that are emotionally sensitive and can be triggering. Please read with caution. This material is for awareness purposes only.

The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) will conduct a mental health and well-being initiative for 16 lakh students and 32,000 teachers. The program will begin on World Mental Health Day in October and conclude at the CISCE Conclave in Hyderabad in November. The focus is on student mental health, emotional well-being, resilience and how to create supportive school environments.

The initiative will create a structured system that raises student concerns and experiences on a national forum and helps build more sensitive school environments. The focus is to create impactful conversations that help teachers and educational institutions understand students’ mental well-being better. The initiative has been divided into three phases and will start at the local level and end on a national stage.

The First Stage

The first phase of the program includes Mental Health and Well-Being Dialogues at the school level at CISCE-affiliated schools in October. It will involve students from classes 6-12 in weekly and planned classroom discussions that hope to document their experiences and perspectives. The initiative will also encourage schools to develop listening abilities, empathy, peer support and other ways to help. The weekly classroom discussion will cover four important themes.

Student Stress and Academic Pressures
Emotional Well-Being
Digital Life and Positive Relationships
Drugs, Substance Abuse and Healthy Choices; and Building Resilience and Help-Seeking Behaviour

The Second Stage

The second phase of the Mental Health and Well-Being initiative will be conducted online across 18 regions for ten days in November in a conclave setting. Student representatives and mentor teachers will participate in regional dialogue where the school-level perspectives will be collectively analysed. This regional-level discussion will also select teachers and students to participate in the national-level talks through a fair and merit-based process.

The Final Stage

The third-tier or phase will begin at the National Conclave in Hyderabad between November 20^th and 22^nd, bringing together students, policy-makers and educators. The two-day event will unite 72 students and 18 teachers from 18 regions. It will also include mental health experts, policy experts, CISCE leaders, along with representative agencies and media partners. This final stage of discussions will bring together all the documented perspectives and experiences to create long-term solutions. The aim is to translate all this into practical recommendations that also strengthen school practices. It will also create a shared national framework for student well-being, according to The Hindustan Times.

Digital Addiction Among Youngsters

A recent survey by the National Council for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) found that 82.2% children aged between 14-16 years use smartphones. It also found that only 57% were using them for educational purposes, while many others used them for social media and entertainment. The same survey found that three-quarters of children under 12 years were spending two to four hours daily on smartphones and tablets.

High Risk to Mental Health

The negative impact of digital addiction on underage minds is exposure to unsuitable content and individuals through online interactions. META India has recently been under the government’s scrutiny for posing dangers to minors through their social media platforms like Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook. Several studies have also detailed the risks young children face from digital addiction, including mental health struggles. There is a huge risk of an inferiority complex, besides anxiety and depression, even suicidal behaviour if it is not monitored.

Negative Impact on Mental Health

While technology has certainly made it easier for students and teachers to conduct research and further educational research, it can be deadly for young children who surf the net without monitors or safeguards. Adults themselves have been found to suffer digital addiction and its many risks, so the impact on vulnerable children is more worrying. Studies also show that technology addiction can raise the following mental health challenges in children.

Sleep Disorders
Lack of Focus
Anxiety
Behavioral Problems
Social Isolation
Depression
Digital Narcissism
Cyber Harassment

Conclusion

The CISCE initiative is extremely important in an age where AI and technology dependence can particularly and negatively impact mental health and lifestyle habits. This move shows an extreme need to heal India’s growing mental health crisis by focusing on the most vulnerable group: children. This initiative by CISCE will hopefully translate to nationwide awareness that touches vulnerable students and teachers, and through them, other communities across India and beyond school walls.

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