Team Herald
MARGAO: Stating that there is a crucial need for mental health counsellors, the Green Goa Foundation (GGF), a Margao based public trust has urged the Directorate of Education to compulsorily appoint counsellors in schools and higher secondary schools across Goa failing which it threatened to file a petition in the Bombay High Court at Goa.
In a letter to the Director of Education, GGF stated that counselling aims to empower students by supporting their emotional well-being, promoting mental health, and ensuring their holistic development.
“Children entering and going through the period of adolescence (ages 10 to 19) are constantly undergoing physical, psychological, emotional, and social changes. This involves a plethora of emotions, such as anger, anxiety, and fear, which students need help navigating,” the letter stated.
Valencia B J Mendonca, vice-chairman, GGF said that children deal with interpersonal issues like creating and finding their identity, regulating strong emotions, understanding their bodily changes, academic difficulties, conflicts at home with friendships and romantic relationships, etc.
“Psychological wellbeing has the potential to cause a butterfly effect in positively impacting a person’s physical health, academic scores, social life and ability to handle professional available at education institutes would allow students to avail of regular counselling sessions and importantly, free of cost,” said Mendonca.
And hence, GGF demanded that the Director of Education immediately direct all the educational institutes in Goa, compulsorily appoint a counsellor for schools, higher secondary, colleges in the larger interest of the students.
