Dr.Jamila Firdaus, Head School Psychologist & Counselor, Navrachana School, Sama

It is rightly said ‘A healthy mind is a vehicle for happiness and wellbeing’. In the last six decades, Navrachana School has accorded high priority to holistic student development with emphasis on child psychology. In today’s rapidly evolving and dynamic world, mental health can be promoted through the art of listening and the unprejudiced attitude of the school community towards the mental health and wellbeing of students.

 

We at Navrachana believe that ‘ Every Child can do better in Life ‘. Our social and emotional learning programme is integrated in the school curriculum right from class I through the Life Skills Education Program and SEL Program. The school helps teachers and parents in early identification of learning issues, developmental delays and giftedness through a competent team of psychologists and counselors and well-trained remedial teachers. We also strongly advocate the Parent Education Program at every level thereby making parents an important stakeholder in students’ mental wellbeing. Across the school, everyday we see our students reaching out for mental health support from their school counselors, mentor teachers and peer educators, thereby championing the cause of mental health and wellbeing. 

 

School Mental Health Programs are organised throughout the year to reinforce every student’s mental health and wellbeing. The current academic year incorporates regular mental health initiatives and programmes for both students and staff as a part of co-curricular development. From screening and identification of mental health conditions to personality and life skills development, from aptitude testing programme to career guidance programme and career fest, from scholastic backwardness to learning difficulties, from special needs to gifted learning programmes, from awareness building for addictive behaviours to life style and happiness quotient, our school extensively integrates emotional and social intelligence for our students and prepares them for ‘Hardiness and Resilience Building’.

 

We have come a long way as a school community that relentlessly strives to destigmatise mental health and related psychological breakdowns and make it a part of daily hygiene and happy beings. 

The Covid-19 pandemic shed a new light on child mental health. We see more and more members from the school community engaging in mental health initiatives. It’s a new and hopeful beginning of the 21st century students being ambassadors of mental health in building a resilient India.

Also read: At Navrachana, we dont strive to be perfect.. We strive for excellence