Public Mental Health Crisis in Educational Institutions
The Supreme Court of India has recognized a critical public mental health issue concerning student suicides on campuses, particularly in premier institutions like IITs. In response, a National Task Force has been established to address this crisis.
Institutional Response and Challenges
- Despite efforts to create supportive environments, institutional responses are often limited to increasing the number of psychologists, without addressing deeper socio-structural determinants like discrimination.
- Counselling centres aim to foster mental health awareness, yet their language and policies do not include queer-affirmative or trans-inclusive practices.
- The exclusionary language in official documents does not comply with legal standards set by the Supreme Court, such as the 2014 NALSA judgment.
Importance of Inclusive Practices
- The use of gender-inclusive language and pronouns is a crucial step towards creating a safe environment for all students, especially those from diverse gender identities and sexualities.
- The Supreme Court's 2023 Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes advocates for unbiased language, highlighting its societal impact.
Educational Environment and Mental Health
- The focus on grades as a measure of student worth contradicts the ethic of care, which values human connection and empathy.
- Teachers play a pivotal role in creating empathetic and culturally sensitive classroom environments by interacting regularly with students.
- Current mental health policies need a paradigm shift towards a more inclusive and context-sensitive approach, emphasizing classroom dynamics.
Ethics and Institutional Policies
- There is an ethical crisis when psychologists align with institutional policies that violate constitutional safeguards.
- Embedding an ethic of care into institutional policies is essential to address mental distress effectively.
Conclusion: The need for a comprehensive, inclusive approach to mental health care in educational institutions and structural changes in language, policies, and educational practices to ensure the well-being of all students.
