The Ministry of Education has decided to launch of a special programme focused on mental health for school children.
Schools play a crucial role in teaching essential life skills and shaping individuals into successful members of society. Among the most important goals is ensuring that children are mentally healthy and self-confident. The ministry is placing special emphasis on making schools environments where students are prepared to handle the challenges they may encounter in life. As children grow, their thoughts and perspectives evolve, and various factors within their family and environment can have different psychological impacts. To address these issues, the ministry is introducing this mental health program to better equip students for such challenges.
The primary aim of the programme is to help children develop the mental resilience needed to face age-related challenges. The ministry noted that many children struggle to manage emotions like conflict, anger, and sadness. The programme, which will be implemented across all government schools and grades, seeks to address these issues. The ministry has observed behavioral changes in children, with some even contemplating self-harm in extreme cases. The initiative is designed to help students cope with such feelings within the school setting, fostering their mental well-being.
The ministry has announced plans to hire a consultancy firm to support the programme. The project, in collaboration with UNICEF, will also produce educational materials on mental health. Interested organisations are invited to submit their proposals by October 1.