Question : Manodarpan

(a) whether the Government rolled out a mental health initiative named Manodarpan keeping in mind the stress faced by students and their families especially during the COVID-19 pandemic with the platform including a national toll free helpline for students of schools, universities and colleges, manned by a pool of experienced Counsellors, Psychologists and mental Health professionals for help during the COVID crisis and beyond;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reason therefor?

MINISTER OF EDUCATION
(SHRI RAMESH POKHRIYAL ‘NISHANK’)

(a) & (b) The Ministry of Education has undertaken an initiative, named, ‘Manodarpan’, covering a wide range of activities to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing during the COVID outbreak and beyond. A Working Group, having experts from the fields of education, mental health and psychosocial issues as its members, has been set up to monitor and promote the mental health issues and concerns of students and to facilitate providing of support to address the mental health and psychosocial aspects during and after COVID-19 lockdown, through conselling services, online resources and helpline.
The following components are included in the ‘Manodarpan’ initiative:
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a. Advisory Guidelines for students, teachers and faculty of School systems and Universities along with families.
b. Web page on the MHRD website carrying advisory, practical tips, posters, videos, do’s and don’ts for psychosocial support, FAQs and online query system.
c. National level database and directory of counsellors at School and University levels.
d. National Toll-free Helpline for a country wide outreach to students from school, universities and colleges.
e. Handbook on Psychosocial Support: Enriching Life skills & Wellbeing of Students’
f. Interactive Online Chat Platform for contact, counselling and guidance by psychologists and other mental health professionals for students, teachers, and families during COVID-19 and beyond.
g. Webinars, audio-visual resources including videos, posters, flyers, comics, and short films with focus on convergence of resources from other Ministries/Departments on physical and creative well-being which are essential parts of Mental well-being.
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The web-page (URL: http://manodarpan.mhrd.gov.in ), containing advisory, practical tips, posters, videos, do’s and don’ts, FAQs, online query system and other resources for psychosocial support and the National Toll-free Helpline (8448440632) set up for a country-wide outreach to students from schools, colleges and universities to provide them tele-counselling to address their mental health and psychosocial issues during and after the COVID-19 situation have been launched on the 21st July, 2020.

(c) Does not arise.
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