New Delhi- Recently the ministry of education (MoE) has issued draft guidelines to schools for enhancing sensitivity, understanding and supporting in case of reported self-harm.
The draft to Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathies, Empower, develop (UMMEED) guidelines begins at the time during record students preparing for engineering and medical entrance exams in coaching hub Kota have committed suicide in 2023 so far. The draft guidelines for schools contain measures such as setting up school wellness team (SWT) recognizing students exhibiting warning signs and at risk of self-harm, responding at once and supporting such students, among others.
With the principal of “every child matter” behind the development of these guidelines, the draft needs public feedback, details directions to schools for enhancing sensitivity, understanding and giving support in case of self -harm.
The guidelines also highlight the nurturing partnerships between parents, schools and community, for encouraging societal support as a critical strategy to prevent suicide and lessen the stigma related with suicidal behavior.
Discarding damaging notions, including comparisons with peers, the perception of failure as permanent, and the sole measurement of success based on academic performance, have also been suggested in the draft besides locking up empty classrooms, light up dark corridors, cleaning gardens and areas with additional growth of grass.
According to the guidelines, the school wellness team (SWT) maybe formed under the leadership of the school principal where each individual of SWT is orientated in handling difficult situations. When a student is showing a warning sign and has been recognized by any stakeholder, they need to be reported immediately to the SWT, so that immediate actions will be taken.
The SWT will also play a significant role to implement school activities which is directed towards creating awareness about mental well-being and this leads towards suicide prevention. However, SWT alone will not be enough in a school’s effort towards prevention of suicide and would need the support of all stakeholders.
Depending on the resources available within school, the guidelines suggest SWT be reconstituted on a frequent basic to give all stakeholders in the school the chance to build awareness and capacity. Moreover, it is important for the school to review the effectiveness of SWT and its functioning on a yearly basic.
The draft has suggested that in order to effectively avoid suicides and ensure suitable and timely response in situations of crisis, schools must efficiently work towards building the capacity of all stakeholders which includes all teachers, school staff and students
As per the draft guidelines an important step in this direction is to improve their knowledge and encourage peer support by organizing activities on a regular basis for relaxing and reducing stress, providing channels for expression, collecting resources to seek support, integrating mental well being in school functioning creating a safe environment in school and beyond including vigilance at railway tracks, cliffs, bridges and banks.
