This is a presentation focusing on how to restore or help students for maintaining positive mental health to lead a well-balanced life.

1. IMPORTANCE OF
MENTAL HEALTH OF
THE STUDENTS FOR
LEADING A WELL-
BALANCED LIFE
PRESENTED BY
DR. INDRANI KALITA
ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, DEPARTMENT OF
EDUCATION
KRISHNA KANTA HANDIQUI STATE OPEN
UNIVERSITY
2/10/20201

2. INTRODUCTION
What is Mental Health???
It refers to cognitive, behavioural and emotional well-being. It is all
about how people think, feel and behave. It refers to the capacity of the
individual, a group and the environment to interact with one another in
ways that promote the feeling of well-being.
Every Year October 10th is celebrated as “World Mental Health Day”
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3. WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Mental Health is a state of well-being in which the
individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with
the normal stresses of life, can work productively and
fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her
community.
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4. MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Mental Health awareness means that we are not only acknowledging
that mental health is important, but we are taking about it, putting it
out there so that people who feel too much can get the help they need
too- Jessica Hull (Department of Psychology, University of Oregon,
US)
It means educating people on what mental illness means, how to
prevent it, and to remove the stigma about it.- Faith Morante
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5. IMPORTANCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Mental illnesses affect 19% of the adult population, 46% of teenagers
and 13% of children each year. (Reported by Christian Mental Health
Services, Michigan, United States).
In India, the National Mental Health Survey 2015-16 reveals that
nearly 15% Indian adults need active intervention for one or more
mental health issues and one in 20 Indians suffers from depression. It
is estimated that in 2012, India had over 258,000 suicides, with the
age-group of 15-49 years being most affected.
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6. COMPONENTS OF MENTAL HEALTH LITERACY
Source:
https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?journal=Br+J+Psychiatry&title=Me
ntal+health+literacy.+Public+knowledge+and+beliefs+about+mental+disorders
&author=AF+Jorm&volume=177&publication_year=2000&pages=396-
401&pmid=11059991&
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7. SUICIDE RATE AMONG STUDENTS IN INDIA
According to National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB), 10,159 students died by
suicide in 2018. If we see the table we can analyse the growth rate of suicide
among students from last 19 years.
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8. SOME INSTANCES FROM THE STATE OF ASSAM
 A 15-year-old class 10 student in Western Assam’s Chirang district allegedly committed
suicide on Tuesday morning after he failed to attend online classes and examinations in
the absence of a smartphone. The minor boy allegedly committed suicide by hanging
himself from a tree near his house. (June 23, 2020).
 In West Jorhat Assam, one girl committed suicide. She hanged herself with a drape used
for salwar kurta. The cause of death was her High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) or
class 10 Boards result. She had received 1st Division with letter marks in 1 subject. (June
6, 2020)
 Fearing a three-year ban after being expelled for cheating during the Class X board
examination, a girl student from Assam’s Barpeta district has committed suicide by
consuming pesticides. (Feb, 2020)
 Not performing up to the expectations in Assam’s high school leaving certificate (HSLC)
exam, five students to commit suicide on Wednesday. All five took their lives by hanging.
(May 16, 2019).
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9. TWO COMMON MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS
 Anxiety Disorders – More than 18% of adults each year struggle with
some type of anxiety disorder, including post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic
disorder (panic attacks), generalized anxiety disorder and
specific phobias.
 Mood Disorders – Mood disorders, such as depression and bipolar
depression, affect nearly 10% of adults each year and are characterized
by difficulties in regulating one’s mood.
(Report By Jean Holthaus, who is a Licensed Independent Social Worker and clinic
manager at the Pine Rest Pella Clinic)
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10. REPORT BY ACCIDENTAL DEATHS AND
SUICIDE IN INDIA 2018
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11. REPORT BY ACCIDENTAL DEATHS AND
SUICIDE IN INDIA 2018
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12. REPORT BY ACCIDENTAL DEATHS AND SUICIDE
IN INDIA 2018
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13. CONSEQUENCES OF STUDENT MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES
As per data of Suicide Prevention Resource Centre (US Dept. of Health and
Human services) there are some important consequences for students if they have
mental health issues. Mental health problems can affect many areas of students’
lives, reducing their quality of life, academic achievement, physical health, and
satisfaction with the college experience, and negatively impacting relationships with
friends and family members. These issues can also have long-term consequences for
students, affecting their future employment, earning potential, and overall health.
Many college students report that mental health difficulties interfere with their
studies. On the American College Health Association 2015 survey, college students
identified the following mental health issues as negatively impacting their academic
performance
 Stress (30% of students)
 Anxiety (22%)
 Sleep difficulties (20%)
 Depression (14%)
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14. AISHE REPORT DATA
– The total number of teachers are 14,16,299, out of which about 57.8% are male teachers and 42.2%
are female teachers. At All-India level there are merely 73 female teachers per 100 male teachers.
– In Assam number of teachers working in Universities and its colleges is 17743(2019).
– As per AIHSE Report 2019, number of students enrolled in Colleges of Assam (including private
and government college) in Post graduate level are 9852 and that in undergraduate level are 521569.
(30 students per teacher)
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15. INITIATIVES OF WHO
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16. INITIATIVES OF WHO
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17. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
AND NEURO SCIENCES
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18. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
AND NEURO SCIENCES
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19. HOW CAN WE HELP CHILDREN COPE WITH THIS DIFFICULT SITUATIONS?
(GUIDELINES FOR PARENTS)
BY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH & NEUROSCIENCES, BENGALURU, INDIA
 Children are constantly exposed to information related to the pandemic in newspapers, TV news
channels and social media. They may understandably have realistic and some exaggerated fears.
They must be provided unambiguous and clear information regarding the pandemic in an age-
appropriate language. The aim is to reassure them and reduce exaggerated threat perception.
Children who wish to have access to information may be encouraged to look at reliable websites
such as the World Health Organisation (WHO), Centers for Disease Control (CDC) or the Ministry
of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India.
 Answer your children's queries but figure out a way of striking a balance. Too much information
can cause panic and severe anxiety. Take your cues from the child.
 Family time can include games that parents may not have had time to play thus far. This is a good
opportunity to reconnect with the family playing board games, cards, carrom, antakshari, etc.
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20. HOW CAN WE HELP CHILDREN COPE WITH THIS DIFFICULT SITUATIONS?
(GUIDELINES FOR ADOLESCENTS)
BY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHIATRY
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH & NEUROSCIENCES, BENGALURU, INDIA
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21. ROLE OF PARENTS IN MAINTAING WELL-BALACED
MENTAL HEALTH
A child’s good mental health starts with how parents
perceives and respond their children at home. This will
begin if every parents foster acceptance and love in the
home from birth which will lead in developing positive self-
image of a child in mere future.
Moreover, parents can also foster self-acceptance and strong
self-esteem by encouraging and helping kids by exploring
their interests and talents.
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22. ROLE OF PARENTS IN MAINTAING WELL-
BALACED MENTAL HEALTH
Parents can help in maintaining good
mental health of a child in two ways:
• By Preventing Mental Disorders
• By Restoring Mental Health.
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23. • Never Show Favoritism
• Use of Language
• Spend more time with Children
PREVENT
MENTAL
DISORDERS
• Helping child by overcoming with
their problems
• Providing emotional support to
their children when they are in
need.
• Should take to the counsellor,
psychiatrist at the initial stage.
RESTORING
MENTAL HEALTH
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24. ROLE OF TEACHERS IN MAINTAINING WELL-
BALANCED MENTAL HEALTH
As we Know after attainment of 3-4 years of a child, he/she comes in contact of a teacher. So,
developing a child’s mental health is an important concern for every teacher. The teacher can
play the following roles:
 First and the foremost duty of a teacher is to identify mental health symptoms (like anxiety,
depression, phobia etc) and also keep track of the academic progress of every students.
 Teacher should build a relationship of trust with the students so that students can directly
open up with their problems in front of teachers.
 It is also the role of the teachers to send their children to counsellor or if required to
psychiatrist by convincing the parents for better development of a child.
 Completing syllabus for examination should bot be the only target of teachers they should
guide students individually how to deal with exam phobia whenever they are in need.
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25. SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR MAINTAINING A
WELL-BALANCED LIFE
 Including Yoga Education as a part of education system irrespective of streams.
 There should be a provision of appointing a counsellor right from school to
higher education level so that students undergoing any stress can be detected as
early as possible to avoid such cases like committing suicide.(Govt. Policy)
 If we go through any syllabus right from school education to higher education
only few arts courses is slightly focussing on value education or peace education.
But no direct courses is included in the syllabus. So, a review should be made on
including such courses which can directly lead to development of mental health
of children.( Practical Course).
 Every educational institution should ensure that they provide good
administration, leadership traits, good supervision, conducive learning
environment and good curriculum planning. 2/10/2020
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26. SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS FOR MAINTAINING A
WELL-BALANCED LIFE
 As a teacher we can motivate our children to have a look for atleast 10 mins a
short documentary based on real life events which may have a positive impact
upon the health of a child. This may inspire children to look upon their life from
a new perspective.
 Most important point for not only for teachers but also for parents to make a self
evaluation as a parent or as a teacher. It will help to improve ourselves as a
parent or as a teacher.
 Last but not the least, both parents and teachers should find out the hidden talent
of every child and try to shape them as per their need and interest. This will help
a child to lead a well-balanced life.
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27. THANK YOU 2/10/2020
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