States » NorthPosted at: Oct 29 2026 7:45PM


Schools in Haryana to help parents spot mental distress early

Chandigarh, Oct 29 (UNI) The Haryana government is set to introduce monthly school-based sessions to help parents identify early signs of mental distress among children and adolescents, with a structured referral mechanism to ensure timely access to counselling and healthcare services.
The initiative, SAATH (Support & Awareness for Adolescents Through Parents), will be implemented by the National Health Mission (NHM), Haryana, in collaboration with the School Education Department. It will cover parents and guardians of adolescents aged 10–19 years studying in Classes 6 to 12.
Health Minister Arti Singh Rao said the government would give special attention to the mental health and well-being of schoolchildren. An annual activity calendar will be jointly prepared by the Health and Education Departments to facilitate the programme's implementation.
The sessions will focus on helping parents recognise early warning signs of emotional distress, communicate effectively with their children and understand when professional intervention may be required. Key topics will include mental well-being, bullying, violence, substance-use risks and ways to respond to behavioural changes without prejudice or stigma.
NHM Haryana Mission Director Dr R.S. Dhillon said emotional and behavioural difficulties often become visible first at home, but parents may not always be equipped to recognise the signs or identify appropriate sources of support.
The programme aims to equip parents with practical skills to listen to adolescents, understand their concerns and seek timely assistance, he said.
Under the proposed referral mechanism, students requiring support will be connected to a network beginning with parents or teachers and extending to school counsellors, Community Health Centres (CHCs), adolescent health services and specialist care, wherever necessary. Follow-up will be ensured at each stage to support continuity of care.
Each participating school will prepare an annual SAATH activity calendar in coordination with designated nodal officers from the Health and Education Departments. The sessions will involve a school nodal person, a trained facilitator and an associated Adolescent Friendly Health Clinic, also known as a Maitri Clinic.
Parents will be invited through existing school communication channels. The first invitation will be sent seven to 10 days before a scheduled session, followed by a reminder closer to the date.
The invitations will be based on the session topic and designed to avoid any perception that a child has a problem simply because their parents attend, officials said.
Dr Dhillon said the initiative seeks to establish a continuous support network connecting families, schools and health services, enabling children and adolescents to receive timely assistance for mental health concerns.
The programme is expected to strengthen awareness among parents, encourage early identification of distress and improve coordination between educational institutions and healthcare providers.UNI KK/NB AAB
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