Schools must let students open up with counsellors

Hyderabad: During psychological counselling sessions, schools discourage children from being too proactive and asking questions of the counsellors, fearing that the student may say something negative about the school.

Psychologists say that schools should also open up and give children the freedom to air their issues, be it regarding the school or regarding their personal life.

School managements should also adopt a multidisciplinary approach.

According to Dr Preeti Swaroop, a senior psychiatrist, there should be a Childhood Behavioural Checklist (CBCL), which is a list of questions regarding a child’s behaviour and the parents should fill it in at the beginning of the academic year.

Based on this, the clinical psychologist in the school would be better able to assess the students and identify those who need help.

Psychological issues should not be stigmatised, instead there is a need for early identification, through which behavioural modification would be suggested through parental and teacher intervention, as and when required.

Many schools in other countries follow the CBCL approach, but it is not a widespread practice in our country.

As the new academic year sets in, school managements should also give children enough time to adjust to the new environment and the transition needs to be in a slow and progressive manner. “Many children come back after a carefree vacation, there would be new children joining and students’ behaviour during this phase should also be recorded.”