Mental Health in School Settings

Despite the widespread recognition of the critical nature of mental health, it is regrettably often the aspect that receives the least amount of attention. Even less attention is paid to the mental health of students in schools. Schools are required public health environments due to the fact that children aged 3 to 16 are granted access to education as a result of regulations mandating their attendance. An increasing number of educational institutions recognize the significance of structured curricula and programming in promoting mental health and well-being and social-emotional development. Mental illnesses that are misdiagnosed, untreated, or inadequately treated may impede a student's progress, development, and growth. Childcare facilities possess a unique capacity to facilitate early detection, prevention, and Intervention strategies that benefit students ents at an early stage of development, due to the substantial amount of time children spend in productive settings. Impactful treatment and timely detection for children and their families can significantly improve the well-being of children who are afflicted with mental health disorders. Additionally, there should be a nation wide initiative to promote the development of more positive and engaging educational environments. This volume is intended to focus on the common mental health issues in schools in post-pandemic times, relationships, friendships, adjustments and parental issues, approaches, models and intervention strategies for creating positive school culture and climate, a range of positive outcomes (e.g. prosocial behaviours, student wellness, academic achievement, resilience etc.) and preventing negative outcomes (e.g., persistent stress, aggression, bullying, sexual abuse, substance use, depression, suicidality, anxiety, pandemic stressors etc.) and availability and efficacy of mental health enhancement resources in schools.

About the Author's:

Aradhana Shukla is former Professor and Head of the department of Psychology at Kumaun University, SSJ Campus, Almora and Dean (Arts) Kumaun University, Nainital. She has served in this university since 1987 and before joining this university she was UGC fellow at DDU Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur and Assistant Research Officer at Department of Paediatrics, IMS, BHU. She has guided 52 PhD students completed, 6 major research projects from UGC, NCERT and ICSSR. She has written and edited 20 books and developed 15 psychological tests. More than 250 papers written by her have been published in the journals and books of national and international repute. She has co-edited six volume series on Mental Health: Psycho-Social Perspectives, Volume one 'Issues and Intervention' (2015), Volume two 'Multigroup Analysis' (2015), Volume three 'Strength of Human Resources' (2017) and Volume four 'Therapeutic Applications' (2017), Volume five 'Children and Adolescents' and Volume six 'Women'. She is also co-editor of books entitled "Psyche of Asian Society" in 2019 and "Cognising Asian Societies Through Psychological Underpinnings" in 2022 published by Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi. She has published "स्वास्थ्य मनोविज्ञान" in 2022 by Kitab Mahal, New Delhi. She is the co-author of books entitled 'Communication Skills and Personality Development' and 'संचार कौशल और व्यक्तित्व विकास' published by Anu Publications in the year 2023 and one book entitled "मनोविज्ञान के मूल आधार" is ready to be published by Kitab Mahal Publications, New Delhi. She has attended and participated in so many national and international seminars in online and offline mode and served as supportive supervisor in GFATM round VII an International project. Moreover, she served in various academic assignments given by many organizations. After her retirement in 2019 she worked as a Senior Research Fellow in the Department of Psychology SSJ University Almora. She is a certified counselor from NIMHANS. Now she is working in Grace Foundation Hudson, New York. Her major areas of interest are cross-cultural psychology, health psychology and psychological intervention.

Anubhuti Dubey is Professor of Psychology and presently Dean Students Welfare, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Gorakhpur University (NAAC A++), Gorakhpur (UP). She is teaching here for the past 24 years. She has published more than 55 research papers in the journals of international and national repute and 45 chapters in different edited volumes. She has written books entitled, "Psychological Perspectives on Chronic Illness" in 2012 published by Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi and "स्वास्थ्य मनोविज्ञान" in 2022 published by Kitab Mahal, New Delhi. She is the coauthor of books titled 'Communication Skills and Personality Development' and 'संचार कौशल और व्यक्तित्व विकास' published by Anu Publications in the year 2023. She is also the co-editor of a series of six volumes on "Mental Health: Psychological Perspectives" (Publication years 2015, 2017, 2021 published by Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi). She is also co-editor of books entitled "Psyche of Asian Society" in 2019 and "Cognising Asian Societies Through Psychological Underpinnings" in 2022 published by Concept Publishing Company, New Delhi. She has carried out the ICSSR research project on "Psychological Dynamics of Health and Illness in Women of Eastern Uttar Pradesh". Thirteen students have been awarded PhD degree under her supervision. She has also supervised more than 150 PG dissertation projects. She is also a Master Trainer and Supportive Supervisor for training HIV/AIDS counsellors under GFATM-7 programme. Her research Area of specialization includes Health Psychology, Positive Psychology, Qualitative Research Methods and Psychological Counselling. Presently, she is Editor of the International Journal 'Mind and Society'. She is also a consultant for Psychosocial assessment of juvenile offenders of Gorakhpur district under Juvenile Justice Board. She has awarded by UP Government as Shakti Yodhya and got a Certificate of Appreciation for the contribution in syllabus as NEP 2020 recommendation. She has delivered more than 150 lectures as a resource person at various conferences/seminars/ training programmes/workshops.