Perspective of Teachers on the Mental Health of Students: A Mental Health Literacy Survey

Abstract

Improving mental health literacy in teachers can help in early identification of mental health problems in children and adolescents and facilitate help-seeking behaviour. Objective: A mental health literacy survey was undertaken in a school located in Bijnor district, Uttar Pradesh to assess baseline knowledge and beliefs about mental health issues in teachers. Method: A questionnaire based on Mental Health Literacy and Capacity Survey For Educators was administered in 39 teachers in an English medium school in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. Results: Impulse control difficulties, family and stress related issues, anger issues and bullying were the most common problems that teachers faced with the students in three months preceding the survey. The four commonest measures teachers used to deal with the problems included meeting with the parents (82%), talking with the students to understand the problem and offering support (75%), changing their style of interaction with the student (75%) and reaching out to the administration of the school for support (33%). Increased training opportunities and promotion of collaborative problem solving techniques were some of the measures suggested by teachers to improve mental health literacy. Additional measures such as encouraging students’ to participate in extracurricular activities were suggested to support the mental health needs of the students better. Conclusion: Mental health literacy evaluation in teachers and structured programmes to improve mental health literacy can help teachers in supporting the mental health needs of students.