Fostering mental health among students, UP to conduct assessments in state-run schools

In an attempt to address the neglected need for mental health evaluation among the students, the UP state government has decided to probe into the subject at the primary and secondary levels in state-run schools.

Referring to the same, the Bureau of Psychology, Prayagraj has prepared a questionnaire which will help in accessing various mental health and IQ-related variables among the students.

The evaluation exercise is to be conducted in around 150 schools of every district including Lucknow and Kanpur during the first stage. Following this, the procedure will be carried out in other public schools in the state.

Reportedly, the Bureau of Psychology has dispatched draft questions to the Basic Education Officers of all 75 districts. Furthermore, teachers will be given the responsibility to assess the mental health of the students based on the responses received in the questionnaires.

The data recorded through the assessment procedure at the school level will be sent back to Prayagraj. Incidentally, a team of psychologists at the bureau will analyze the answers and prepare a report based on them.

The experts will further prepare a detailed report suggesting measures to be taken to address the problems which will be sent back to the schools for implementation. With this, the bureau will also come up with a special plan to improve the learning skills of academically weaker students.