World Mental Health Day 2025: Create Classrooms with Care & Concern

  •   Fri, Oct 10 2025
  •   By Dr N K Vijayan Karippal

October 10, 2025

‘A Mentally Healthy School is the foundation of a Mentally Strong Nation’.

Understanding Mental Health

Mental health refers to a person’s psychological, emotional, and social well-being. It shapes how we think, feel, and act in our daily lives. For students, good mental health is key to effective learning, healthy relationships, and effective decision-making. Yet, while physical health is affected prompt and immediate medical attention will be sought and when mental health issues are often ignored or stigmatized. Many parents may fail to recognize the signs of their children or hesitate to seek professional help due to misconceptions or fear of judgment.

Why schools must prioritize Mental Health

Research underscores the urgent need for mental health education and early intervention in schools. Problems such as anxiety, depression, stress, and behavioural issues can escalate without timely support. The major mental health issues among school children in India are as follows: Generalized anxiety, exam anxiety, Depression (withdrawal and irritability, rather than sadness) Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disorders (Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, etc., Behavioural & Conduct problems (Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorders, aggression, Bullying, Body image/shaming, Eating disorders, Sleeping Disorder, Substance use, Mobile addiction, etc.

India faces a critical shortage of mental health professionals. While the WHO recommends three psychiatrists per one lakh people, India currently has less than one-third of that number. Thus, teachers must become the first line of awareness and early detection. With proper training, they can recognize warning signs and guide students toward timely help.

It is worthy of note that the government of Karnataka has been taking keen interest to implement Policies pertaining to Child Rights & Child Protection. The Karnataka Child Protection Policy 2016 & 2023 (Revised) and the subsequent efforts are the testimonial for the same.

The Supreme Court’s call for action

In a landmark verdict dated 25 July 2025, the Honourable Supreme Court of India directed all educational institutions to integrate mental health policies as part of the Right to Life (Article 21). Schools must now implement a uniform mental health policy, inspired by frameworks such as UMMEED, MANODARPAN, and the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.

National frameworks for student well-being

UMMEED: It stands for Understanding, Managing and Monitoring for Educational & Emotional Development. Launched by NCERT, Ministry of Education, UMMEED focuses on: Early identification of mental health issues in children; promoting positive mental health practices in schools; and training teachers and counsellors to address stress, anxiety, and behavioural challenges.

MANODARPAN: Mirror to the Mind

Initiated in July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic by the Ministry of Education, Government of India this programme supports the emotional well-being of students, teachers, and families. Key features include 24 × 7 National Helpline (8448440632) for students in distress, and an online counselling portal with expert videos and self-assessment tools. Let the students and teachers utilize the portal for better awareness.

From classrooms to care rooms

In today’s era of hyper-competition, hyper-comparison, and stress, classrooms cannot remain mere spaces of knowledge transmission. They must evolve into reservoirs of care and concern, nurturing emotional balance and resilience among students. Following are some of the measures teachers can adopt, so that there will be a transformative change in our schools.

To educate children, teachers and parents about Child Sex Abuse (CSA).The Childline India Foundation produced an animated film viz “KOMAL”. It narrates nicely about how to identify CSA, prevent it and respond safely when such occurrences are there in children’s life. This may be screened in primary and high schools.

1. Breaking the stigma

Teachers play a key role in normalizing conversations about mental health in the classroom. By addressing myths and misconceptions, they can help dismantle stigma and foster openness among students. Their attitude and perceptions about mental health issues can be modified gradually.

2. Balancing pleasure and pressure

Parents often set unrealistic expectations for their children. Teachers can act as mediators, motivating students through encouragement rather than pressure, and by maintaining balanced expectations. When teachers show more faith in students’ performance they tend to believe themselves more, and there by increasing the chance of performance enhancement which is known as Pygmalion effect.

3. Mindfulness and Relaxation

Incorporating mindfulness practices such as yoga, pranayama, or short relaxation sessions into the school schedule can significantly reduce stress. Simple activities like music through the public address system or a “quiet hour” etc. can create a calm and positive atmosphere. Such activities should not be considered as ‘extra’-curricular but, ‘co-curricular’, and the part and parcel of inevitable core-curriculum. At the same time these types of activities will help develop perfect listening in classrooms, instead of partial or pseudo-listening.

4. Creating safe emotional spaces

The Empathy, Attentiveness, and Rapport created by the teacher in the class have tremendous results throughout the life of learners. It says that there is no learning disability for students, but teaching dis ability (for teachers only). A classroom built on trust and mutual respect allows students to express themselves freely. Such spaces help reduce anxiety, even in subjects that students find challenging. 

5. The power of humour

Teaching and learning often become mechanical where by create monotony and boredom. Introducing light humour and laughter can humanize classroom interactions, making learning enjoyable and reducing emotional barriers. Now a days, humour is like a forgotten skill for many of the teachers.

6. Encouraging effort over results

Teachers should emphasize the joy of learning rather than the obsession with outcomes. Celebrating small milestones boosts students’ self-confidence and self-esteem, helping them handles setbacks positively. When students are unable to enjoy the process, quite often the product is going to be not very favourable.

7. Life skills and emotional literacy

Teachers can integrate discussions on emotional regulation, stress management, empathy, and problem-solving into everyday lessons. Language and humanities classes, in particular, can be excellent platforms for reflective and life-oriented learning. The incidental discussions and anecdotes can make them stronger and bolder to face the failures in life as well.

8. Collaboration with Parents and Counsellors

Sustainable mental health initiatives thrive on collaboration among teachers, parents, and counsellors. Schools should encourage parent workshops, counselling sessions, and collaborative programmes to create a strong support system for students.

9. Peer support and empathy

With my personal experience in my institution I would like to endorse that the peer relationships can be powerful tools for early identification of distress. Activities promoting teamwork, cooperative learning, and empathy help build an inclusive culture where students support one another. Friends can understand other students’ problems much faster and easier and be part of their healing process.

A model initiative: BEACON BUDDIES

At Expert Pre-University College, Valachil, Mangalore, we launched BEACON BUDDIES, a fusion of the Peer-Counselling Programme and the Child Rights Club. Here, teachers and students serve as Beacons and Buddies, guiding peers and guarding their rights , because ‘Child Rights are not child’s play.’

Conclusion

Decades ago, Rabindranath Tagore criticized our education system with a striking metaphor: “We adorn the cage, but the parrot inside is starving.” This observation remains relevant today. Whether schools are government-run, aided, or private, focusing solely on infrastructural development will not ensure quality education for our children. True progress lies beyond books and blackboards; it begins with nurturing the child’s mind, emotions, and overall well-being.

Mental health is not a separate subject; it is the foundation of meaningful education. When teachers nurture care, connection, and compassion, they build more than just academic achievers; but emotionally intelligent human beings. Let every classroom be a space of care, concern, and confidence, where learning is joyful and life is celebrated.

 

 

 

 
By Dr N K Vijayan Karippal
Dr N K Vijayan Karippal is the principal of Expert PU College, Valachil Mangaluru. He is a consultant educational psychologist & educational management strategist. He has authored many books on educational psychology and parenting. He had served as a resource person for Oxford University Press, Macmillan India, Orient Blackswan, etc for conducting workshops for students, teachers and parents in India and abroad. He serves as the consultant editor for the ‘Children’s Magazine’ over 14 years.
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Comment on this article

  • Shibu, Kozhikode

    Fri, Oct 10 2025

    Relevant observations and facts about the topic of mental health to be followed and implemented by educational institutions to build mentally healthy class rooms, society and Nation. Thank you very much, for such inspiring words as a great teacher.

  • Sony, Mangalore

    Fri, Oct 10 2025

    This article is truly eye-opening. It beautifully captures the struggles students face when it comes to mental health and the importance of having proper support systems. Thank you for bringing attention to a topic that really deserves to be talked about more.


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Title: World Mental Health Day 2025: Create Classrooms with Care & Concern



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