Guidance and Counselling for Children and Adolescents in Schools

includes index and biblioraphy

Section I: Some perspectives on mental helath 1. Understanding mental health ......3 Historical evolution and contemporary notions of mental health .......3 Models of normality ......6 Keydebates in mental health ......7 Need for focusing on mental health in schools .......8 Goals of mental health ......8 Personal and social adjustment ....9 Living a fulfilling life ......9 Guidance, counselling and mental health .......9 On a concluding note .......10 2. Mental health policies and implications for schools .......11 Key policy initiatives ......11Right to education act, 2009 .....12 Protection of children from sexual offences act, 2012 ......12 National mental health policy of india, 2014 ......13 Persons with disabilities act, 1995 and rights of persons with disabilities act, 2016 .....13 Implications for schools ......14 Rights approach ......15 Providing a safe environment ......15 go beyond academics .....15 Provide comfort .....15 Home school continuity ......16 Training of teachers .......16 Recommendations for schools that flow from policy provisions ......17 Train teachers regularly .....17 Hire trained counsellors ....17 Awsareness programmes for students .......17 Community outreach programmes ......18 Avoiding labels ......18 Mentorship programmes .......18 Brdge courses for academic support ......18 Develop communication channels .......19 Build sensitivities, prevent discrimination .......19 Building safe spaces .......19 Recognise signs of sexual offences .....20 Promote healthy gender relations ......20 Rethinking authority ......21 Envisioning comprehensive evaluation practices ......21 On a concluding note .....22 3. Understanding children and adolescents in school .....23 Understanding the needs of children and adolescents ......24 Concerns and dilemmas of children and adolescents .......27 Peer relationships .....27 Family life .....28 Family patterns .....29 Parenting styles .....30 Home environment and interpersonal relationships ......32 Social and familial expectations .....34 Academic stress ....35 Developing a sense of identity .....36 Growing up in a changing world .....41 on a concluding note .......42 4. Issues and challenges in school mental health ......43 Statistical trends, policy perspectives and contemporary realities ......43 Common problems identifiable among children and adolescents ........46 Academic difficulties ......46 Problems in behaviour and conduct ......47 Social relations and adjustment .....47 Clinical disorders ......48 Myths in identifying and dealing with problems ......49 The danger of labelling .....50 Peer relationships .........50 Indifference and abdication of responsibility ......51 What can an individual teacher do ......51 Teaching a child who you know ........52 Meeting expectionms in large classrooms .......53 Home-school continuity ....53 Building a school environment ......53 Identifying existing spaces in the school ......54 Developing sensitivity ........56 Re-visualising relationships in school ......57 5 Situating school students ......59 6. Taking a proactive stance ......76 Section 2 Addressing mental health concerns 7. Identifying and managing behavioural problems .......91 8. Dealing with addiction and abuse ......103 9. Fortering expression and building healthy interpersonal relations ......116 10. Sexuality and related issues and concerns ......128 11. Development of self and identity ......142 12. Coping with stress and auxiety ......151 13. Counselling skills for teachers and parents .....162 Section 3: Psychotherapy and mental health 14. Theories and therapies I: Psychodynamic approaches to therapy .....177 15. Theories and therapies II: Behavioural and cognitive behavioural therapies ......196 16. Theories and therapies III: Humanistic approaches to therapy .....214 17. Alternative practices in psychotherapy ......227 18. Understanding human nature ......242