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Programme to tackle mental health issues of students

DUBAI — A new mental health programme being rolled out in public schools will tackle the increasingly unhealthy behaviour among students by putting into place an effective communications system.

The ‘Whole School Approach’ system will help students overcome mental health issues such as bullying, poor interaction with teachers and parents, family problems and even long school absences by opening up more communication channels with peers, parents, teachers and the community, said officials.

The programme is based on the outcomes of the UAE Global School Health Survey (GSHS) in 2010, which listed unhealthy interaction between students, teachers and parents as a cause for mental health issues among students.

“Schools have various problems and this programme will overcome these issues,” said Professor Rachel Jenkins, Director of WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Mental Health at King’s College London, during a training workshop for school heads, social workers and psychologists.

“Children spend 15,000 hours in schools on an average; we can either damage or improve mental health of a child during this time,” she said.

“We want each child to feel positive and guarded.”

Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Policies and Legislation at the Ministry of Health, said that problems should be tackled and students should be supported.

“We are training school staff to recognise problems and how to handle mental health issues of students at all levels,” he said. Problematic students will be referred to the School Health Department in the ministry.

According to the GSHS 2010, 40 per cent of students said they were absent from school without an excuse a day or more during the past 30 days while 46.3 per cent stated that their parents did not pay attention to their problems. Another 38 per cent students said they were depressed for two or more consecutive weeks during the past 12 months, 17.1 per cent said they felt lonely often or always.

Attendees of the workshop said problems in schools were multiple. They said aggressive students, adolescence problems, smoking, child abuse and short-tempered teachers were also issues that needed to be addressed.

From handling stigma to family problems and multiculturalism, a number of school staff added that they were overburdened. “Psychological workers are overworked, teachers are not giving enough time to students while multiple languages are being spoken at homes which affect the behaviour of students and ultimately put stress on school staff,” said Ghada Assaf, Promotion and Education Coordinator at the Abu Dhabi School Health Services.

Currently, only three child psychologists oversee thousands of school children in Dubai and Ajman districts.

Zeinab Farah, a school nurse from Dubai, said that nurses in schools were overworked. “Many parents are uncooperative and do not care for their children,” she said citing an example.

“A single nurse is handling between 500-700 students,” she said.

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

Law to ensure rights of mentally ill



- officials are drafting an updated copy of the Federal Mental Health Law that will ensure the rights of mentally ill people in the UAE. A senior health official said the bylaws are also being drafted to be presented to the higher authorities.


- the law, among other issues, will define that mentally ill people should be treated with respect and dignity in hospitals. It will also define their rights,” said Dr Mahmoud Fikri, Assistant Undersecretary for Health Policies and Legislation at the health ministry.