Teen moves Delhi HC seeking mental health care for school pupils

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Monday sought response from the Delhi government on a petition concerning mental health of students in schools and colleges, arguing that the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 be implemented in educational institutions. A bench of Justices D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice on the PIL by Devina Singh, a 17-year-old student —also seeking a response from the Institute Of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences here in Delhi.

The petition, filed through advocate Rahul Kumar, has sought mandatory presence of clinical psychiatrists, counsellors, social workers and mental health professionals in each school and college of the district for the assessment of mental health of students.

A direction is also sought to authorities to implement the National Mental Health programme for the benefit of students and to conduct a mental health survey on regular basis/periodic intervals.

Relying on the National Mental Health Survey of India 2015-16, Singh, who was represented by senior advocate Sonia Mathur, has contended that children and adolescents are vulnerable to mental disorders and the healthcare system does not prioritise mental health.

Singh has claimed that stress, fear, depression, insomnia, disconnectedness and lack of self-confidence are the issues widely prevalent among students but left unattended. There is no comprehensive assessment, evaluation, and diagnostics/protocols/SOP regarding mental health of students in contrast with physical health where assessment and follow up is done at periodic intervals, the petition reads.

The plea also said that the Covid-19 pandemic has had a huge psychological impact on the students, resulting in acute and chronic stress because of parental anxiety, disruption of daily routines, increased family violence, and home confinement with little or no access to peers, teachers, or physical activity.

The petition will be heard next on September 16.