Union Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank’ launched the Manodarpan  initiative of the ministry of human resource development to provide psychosocial support to students for their mental health and well-being. 

What is the significance of this initiative?

During these challenging times, the coronavirus pandemic brings mixed emotions and psycho-social stress for all. With specific focus on children and adolescents, there are emerging mental health concerns that are often reported in such situations. Children and adolescents may be more vulnerable and may experience heightened levels of stress, anxiety and fearfulness, along with a range of other emotional and behavioural issues.

While it is important to focus on continuing education on the academic front, the mental well-being of the students also needs to be given equal importance. 

Mental health has a reciprocal relationship with the well-being and productivity of a society and its members. Hence, it is essential for the well-being and functioning of individuals in such a climate to come forward as a more cohesive and mutually interdependent society.

Manodarpan has been included as a step towards the PM’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ by strengthening human capital and increasing productivity and efficient reforms and initiatives for the education sector. 

Resources mobilised through the initiative are envisaged to facilitate a sustainable psychological support system for students, families and teachers with proactive and preventive mental health and well-being services integrated into the mainstream of learning processes.

What are the components of Manodarpan? 

• Advisory guidelines for students, teachers and faculty of school systems and universities along with families.

• Web page on the MHRD website, which will carry advisory, practical tips, posters, videos, do’s and don’ts for psychosocial support and online query system.

• National level database and directory of counsellors at school and university level whose services can be offered voluntarily for tele-counselling service on the national helpline.

• National toll-free helpline by the MHRD for a country wide outreach to students from school, universities and colleges. This unique helpline shall be manned by a pool of experienced counselors/psychologists and other mental health professionals and will continue beyond the COVID-19 situation.

• Handbook to be published online on ‘Enriching Life Skills & Wellbeing of Students’. The booklet will include FAQs, facts & myths and will also cover ways and means to manage emotional and behavioural concerns (from young children to college youth) during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

• Interactive online chat platform for contact, counselling and guidance by psychologists and other mental health professionals which will be available for students, teachers, and families during COVID-19 and beyond.

• Crowd sourcing from students all over the country will be encouraged as peer support.

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store