New Delhi: Sakshi Yadav has been struggling to cope with anger for more than a year ago. “I talked to my friends about my emotional outbursts and my inability to control my temper, but they couldn’t understand me,” the Class X student said. “Instead, they mocked my confessions, and I only became more agitated. I stopped talking to friends. I felt something was wrong, but what exactly, I couldn’t say.”
In the last two weeks, Sakshi (name changed), who is studying at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Moti Bagh, reported having experienced some changes in her mental health and a gets better with managing your anger. With the opening of the Aam Aadmi College Clinic (AASC) at his school, took the first tentative step toward reaching psychologists.
“At first, I was a bit skeptical, but after airing my feelings, I felt good. At least someone was listening to me without making fun of me or judging me,” Sakshi said. “I’ve had five sessions so far and I’m learning not to lose my temper while talking to my mom. My family does not know that I have been attending these sessions.”
Launched on March 7, the AASCs are operating in 20 public schools. Modeled after the mohalla clinics, these school clinics are for the physical, emotional, and mental health of students. Every day, a clinic examines 30 students. For those seeking mental health guidance, there are group sessions and individual counseling focused on topics such as self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, stress management, anxiety relief, and other overwhelming issues.
Class XI student Priya Negi (name changed) has taken advantage of the counseling. “We can’t discuss everything with the teachers or talk freely at home,” she said. “Lots of random, mostly meaningless and illogical thoughts flood my mind. It took me a while to trust the psychologist at our school clinic and I panicked during the first session, but now I look forward to being able to talk openly about my emotions.”
In the three weeks since the clinics opened, psychologists identified anger management, loneliness, identity issues, academic and peer pressure, and relationships as top issues among young people.
“Most kids in public schools come from low-income families where mental health isn’t prioritized and issues aren’t discussed,” said Dr. Mansi Dougall, an AASC psychologist. “Many students are somehow aware of the need to address their issues and are willing to discuss this in groups. There were some who cried during the group sessions and we called them in for one-on-one discussions.”
The clinics focus mainly on the older adolescent group of students of classes IX-XII for individual counseling. However, separate counseling is also provided to anyone from the lower classes who are determined to be in need of individual attention.
Dr. Manish Kandpal, a psychologist at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, was pleased with the government’s initiative. “The earlier mental health issues are identified and addressed, the better for young people,” Kandpal said. “However, it is vital that those advising students are well-trained.” Dr. Manju Mehta, a former AIIMS psychologist, also opined that if psychologists were not well-trained, the effort could mentally damage children and increase their anxiety. “During adolescence, there are a lot of uncertainties and it’s a competitive time. Kids are also worried about the future,” he noted.
The main objective of the clinics is also to work on long-term physical deficiencies and disorders, such as anemia, adolescent diabetes, refractive errors, worm infestation, menstrual hygiene, malnutrition, skin infection and other diseases. Dr. Priyangshu Gupta, who is in charge of five AASCs, said low hemoglobin is common, especially among girls. “We have concentrated on the main problems of the students and we are giving medications according to the requirements. We will assess his health again after six months,” Gupta said.
The clinics are equipped with an adequate supply of medicines with the main focus on anemia, malnutrition, eye problems, menstrual hygiene and common ailments from the school years.
In the last two weeks, Sakshi (name changed), who is studying at Sarvodaya Kanya Vidyalaya, Moti Bagh, reported having experienced some changes in her mental health and a gets better with managing your anger. With the opening of the Aam Aadmi College Clinic (AASC) at his school, took the first tentative step toward reaching psychologists.
“At first, I was a bit skeptical, but after airing my feelings, I felt good. At least someone was listening to me without making fun of me or judging me,” Sakshi said. “I’ve had five sessions so far and I’m learning not to lose my temper while talking to my mom. My family does not know that I have been attending these sessions.”
Launched on March 7, the AASCs are operating in 20 public schools. Modeled after the mohalla clinics, these school clinics are for the physical, emotional, and mental health of students. Every day, a clinic examines 30 students. For those seeking mental health guidance, there are group sessions and individual counseling focused on topics such as self-awareness, interpersonal relationships, stress management, anxiety relief, and other overwhelming issues.
Class XI student Priya Negi (name changed) has taken advantage of the counseling. “We can’t discuss everything with the teachers or talk freely at home,” she said. “Lots of random, mostly meaningless and illogical thoughts flood my mind. It took me a while to trust the psychologist at our school clinic and I panicked during the first session, but now I look forward to being able to talk openly about my emotions.”
In the three weeks since the clinics opened, psychologists identified anger management, loneliness, identity issues, academic and peer pressure, and relationships as top issues among young people.
“Most kids in public schools come from low-income families where mental health isn’t prioritized and issues aren’t discussed,” said Dr. Mansi Dougall, an AASC psychologist. “Many students are somehow aware of the need to address their issues and are willing to discuss this in groups. There were some who cried during the group sessions and we called them in for one-on-one discussions.”
The clinics focus mainly on the older adolescent group of students of classes IX-XII for individual counseling. However, separate counseling is also provided to anyone from the lower classes who are determined to be in need of individual attention.
Dr. Manish Kandpal, a psychologist at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, was pleased with the government’s initiative. “The earlier mental health issues are identified and addressed, the better for young people,” Kandpal said. “However, it is vital that those advising students are well-trained.” Dr. Manju Mehta, a former AIIMS psychologist, also opined that if psychologists were not well-trained, the effort could mentally damage children and increase their anxiety. “During adolescence, there are a lot of uncertainties and it’s a competitive time. Kids are also worried about the future,” he noted.
The main objective of the clinics is also to work on long-term physical deficiencies and disorders, such as anemia, adolescent diabetes, refractive errors, worm infestation, menstrual hygiene, malnutrition, skin infection and other diseases. Dr. Priyangshu Gupta, who is in charge of five AASCs, said low hemoglobin is common, especially among girls. “We have concentrated on the main problems of the students and we are giving medications according to the requirements. We will assess his health again after six months,” Gupta said.
The clinics are equipped with an adequate supply of medicines with the main focus on anemia, malnutrition, eye problems, menstrual hygiene and common ailments from the school years.
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