Teachers learn about Mental Health/Suicide Prevention from Suicide Helpline
An awareness programme on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention was conducted recently for the teachers of The Cambridge International School in Adyar, Mangaluru. Mrs. Sandra Suares, Mrs. Diana Pinto, Mrs. Usha Rao and Dr. Lavina Noronha were the facilitators. The team addressed two modules: Students’ mental health: Teachers as gatekeepers and Stress and Wellbeing: Coping with pressures of everyday life.
The Suicide Helpline believes that teachers and students should be provided with ways to recognize signs of developing mental health problems and should be aware that help is available in times of a crisis, including the risk of suicide or self-harm. Mental health awareness is an important issue for all educators, who are often the first line of defence for the students. They also recognize the impact that a student’s mental health has on learning and achievement and realise that there’s a great deal that can be done to help spread awareness.
Suicide Lifeline team hopes that by bringing mental health awareness into schools, conversation about mental illness can be opened up thereby lessening the fear and stigma surrounding it. Dr. Kusum D’Sa, Principal of TCIS was instrumental in organizing the awareness programme in the school.