Mangaluru: It is very common to find students fall ill or get into depression when the examinations are nearing. If parents find their children behaving unusually, they can approach the district health department and make their children stress-free through free counselling.
Dakshina Kannada District Health Officer Dr. Ramakrishna Rao during an interaction programme with the reporters organised jointly by the Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists Association and Press Club, Mangaluru, informed that the officials of health department including psychiatrists visit schools and colleges and give some valid tips to students on preventing depression. “We are also organising taluk level camps in order to give counselling to such students”, he informed.
Rao also informed that the health department had already given training to over 800 school teachers on how to manage those students who are suffering from stress. “Stress management plays a vital role in preventing students from falling into depression. As our psychiatrists have given some basic tips to the teachers during their school visits, it helps them to handle students “, he said.
District Mental Health Programme Officer Dr. Rathnakar informed that the department, on an average, had been receiving eight calls a week from the parents seeking counselling for their children. “Though we have been providing such counselling since the last three years, people have started making use of it properly, only in the recent days. As the exams near, students develop fear about facing it which may result in depression. Parents should not hesitate to inform us about the condition of their children. There are several instances, wherein the students suffering from depression recovered after our counselling. If parents need help for their children, they can contact-9980017234,” he said.
District Family Planning Officer Dr. Sikandar Pasha, District Surveillance Officer Dr. Rajesh B V among others were present.