Delhi to launch mental well-being policy for students and youth
Education Minister Ashish Sood reviewed a framework designed to support the emotional and psychological health of children and young people.
The Delhi government will formally launch a mental well-being policy on November 19 at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, according to reports by The New Indian Express and ThePrint. Education Minister Ashish Sood reviewed the proposed framework on Wednesday to ensure emotional and psychological health is central to the state's education vision.
The initiative aims to support students and young people, including those outside formal education. The scope of the policy includes CM SHRI schools, government and government-aided institutions, private schools, higher education centres, and children with special needs.
Under the proposed plan, responsibility for well-being will extend from teachers to the entire school environment. This includes psychometric assessments for teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as transport personnel who interact with children. The government has also created handbooks featuring practical exercises and structured questions to increase emotional awareness.
Minister Sood stated that education must go beyond textbooks and exam results to ensure children feel safe and understood. He said the government wants to build a culture where seeking support for emotions is natural and free from stigma.
The policy development follows the death of a student by suicide in a Lutyens’ Delhi school last November.