On Oct 3, the Education Ministry issued guidelines to enhance sensitivity, empathy, and help when pupils engage in self-harming behaviors. The basic guidelines are UMMEED, which stands for Understand, Motivate, Manage, Empathise, Empower, and Develop. They came at a time when there have been multiple suicides among engineering and medical students in Kota, the coaching hotspot, this year.
The guidelines specify steps such as forming a School Wellness Team (SWT), identifying children displaying warning signals or at danger of self-harm, the quick reaction to situations involving kids at risk, and the provision of required support.
Guided by the principle that "Every Child Matters," the guidelines emphasize the importance of building strong partnerships among schools, parents, and the community to create societal support as a critical strategy for preventing suicide and reducing the stigma associated with suicidal behavior.
Furthermore, the draft suggests discarding harmful notions, such as comparing oneself to peers, viewing failure as permanent, and measuring success solely based on academic performance. It also recommends practical measures like securing empty classrooms, improving lighting in dark corridors, and maintaining gardens and overgrown grassy areas.
"The SWT will also play an important role in implementing school activities to raise mental health awareness and prevent suicide." However, SWT alone will not be enough in a school's attempts to prevent suicide, and the participation of all stakeholders is required," it says.
The guideline suggests that the School Wellness Team (SWT) be reformed on a regular basis based on the school's existing resources. This restructuring would allow all school stakeholders to participate in raising awareness and creating capability.
"Additionally, it is important for the school to review the effectiveness of SWT and its functioning on an annual basis," it continues.
