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School Social Work from Mental Health Perspective

SinuE*

School mental health is one of the most Aspects of school health service

important aspects of the school health The tasks of school health services

andcommunity health. School mental are manifold largely depending on

healthrefers to the health of the school the resources and the priorities of the

going children. The mental health of community. Broadly speaking, schoolthe child affects his/ her physical health service include the following:

health and the learning process. + First-aid and emergency care

Maladjustment, juvenile delinquency + Health appraisal of school children

anddrug addiction plague the present and personnel

day youth. Intervention is best + Preventionofconnmmicablediseases

initiated in the school because it is the + Remedial measures and follow-up

most strategic place for shaping the + Healthy school environment

child's behaviour and promoting + Nutritionalservices

mental health. + Eyecare

The school teacher has both positive + Dental care

andpreventive role. He is concerned + Health education

withhelping all children attain mental + Education of the handicapped

health so that they may develop in to children

mature, responsible and well-adjusted + Maintenance and proper use of

adults. In a day, on an average, the school health records and

child spends nearly 8 hours i.e. one + Mental health service which includes

third day in the sch~ol. The school 1. promotion of positive mental health

routines and teaching process of 2. prevention of mental disorders

acceptance, - assimilation, 3. early recognition and identification

accommodation, competition and of mental disorders

cooperation determine the mental 4. intervention at early stage and

health of the child. follow-up

According to modern concepts, 5. provision of child-friendly andschool mental health service is the healthy environment

most economical and powerful means 6. spreading awareness about mental

of raising community health. It has illnesses and their treatment

developed during the past 70 years Mentally healthy student

fromthe narrower concept of medica I A mentally healthy student accepts

examination of children to the present himsel(with his strong points and his

day broader concept of shortcomings; he makes the best useof

comprehensive care of the health and what he has and seldom allows hiswell being of children throughout the personal weaknesses to interfere with

school years. his daily activities and his pursuit of

*SinuE, MSW is a M Phil student in Department of Psychfatric Social Work, NIMHANS,

Bangalore

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long range goals. The emotionallyhealthy student strikes a balance

between his instincts and hisconsciencecoupled with the demandsof the environment. Let us see how

teachers, parents -and the school

environmentitself can act as agentstofoster themental health ofthechild.Teacher asan agent of mental healthA goodteacher isimpartial and fair to

all. Hehaspleasingpersonal mannersand appearance. He is cooperative,friendly,kind,patient, anddemocratic.He defusesany tension in theclass bytimelyhumour.Showskeen interest inthe problems of the children in order

to find suitable solutions. He usespraiseandrecognitioningoodmeasurewhenchildrenexcel instudiesor other

related activities. He never bullies orhumiliatesthechildinanymanner. He

understandshisprimerolei.e. teachingandisproficientinteachingthechosensubject. Such ateacher will motivate

thechildrentostudywell. Now-a-daysteachers are also catalysts, enablersand motivators. Learning can takeplaceonly whenthereis aneed, drive,motiveandanappropriate goal. Evenif anyoneofth~componentsismissingthe child's progress will be thwarted.

Teacher, as an agent of school mentalhealth, helps the child choose anappropriate goal thereby creating aneed to be motivated to strive for itsachievement.

Parents: agents of school mentalhealthCultivating emotional intelligence ofchildren is the major role of parents.

Words and actions of parents andteachers influence the child's

developing self-image more thananything else in the world. When

parents praise the children for evensmall accomplishments, itnurturesthechild's pride. Letting the childrendo

things themselves makes themfeel

capable and confident. On thecontrary, if thechildren arecomparedadverselywithothers,itwill makethem

ashamed and feel worthless too. Theroleof parentsinshapingthefollowing

fiveessential componentsof emotionalintelligence is noteworthy:1. Self-awareness

2. Self-regulation

3. Motivation4. Empathy and5. Social skills

Handling emotions in social relationships well and reading the

social .situations ana networks

accurately isan easy task for thechildwho had been brought up in anenvironment nurturing social andemotional intelligence.

School as an agent of school mentalhealthSchools promote mental health andmental well being of the students. Ifthe school environment or the livingand learning climate of the school,is

child-friendly then it has innumerablevistas to improve the scholastic andemotional lives of the students.Child friendly-school

The child feels accepted because the

school promotes tolerance todifferences (in sex, religion, caste,language or economic status).

Equalityand solidarity are promotedingood measure. Freedomto express

is promoted.

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Activeinvolvement of every child

isensuredgiving each child a tasteof living in an atmosphere ofcooperation. In a child-friendly

school corporal punishment isavoidedbecause it fosters violenceand/orsocial deviance. The child'sself-esteemand self-confidence arebolstered in every possible way.throughactivities and opportunities

forexpression and excellence. Theeconomic needs of the sociallyunderpr'ivileged students are met

through government grants orphilanthropists.

StudiesinIndian contextInIndia, several studies. focused ontheproblems of mental health amongchildrenandadolescents (Surya 1964,

K.C.Dube 1967, Verghese and Beig

Bibliography

Parthasarathy R

1992

Parthasarathy Rand Rao Y .N

1998

Parthasarathy Rand Rao Y .N

1986

Kapur Mallavika

1993

Kapur Mallavika

1995Kapur Mallavika

1997

Constable, Robert T1982

Robinson Margaret1976

1974, John P John 1980 Filbo and

Srinivasamurthy 1981 and Shariff1982). These studies revealed thatmorbidity is quite high in child

population ranging from5% to 15%.Most of these children suffer from

anxiety, hysteria, emotional andconduct problems which are easilytreatable. If such problems areunidentified and uncare4 for, theymay cause serious problems in laterlife.Conclusion,

Complexities of life have reached astage where no school will becomplete without a counselor' andmental health specialist beingpresentinit.

The school social worker has indeeda great deal to offer.

Mental Health Perspective in the New System:The Hindu, 'Dee 14Child Mental Health: Proceedings of the Indo-USSymposium, Bangalore:NIMHANSMental Health of Indian Children, New Delhi:

Sage publicationsMental Health in Indian School, New Delhi:Sage publicationsSchool Social Work: Practice and Research Perspective,

Illinois:Dor sey PressSchools and Social Work, London:Kegan Paul Publishers

Journal of School Social Work