Allen Career Institute, a leader in India’s test preparation space, on September 10, organised a mental health awareness programme along with the Kota police, at a time when student suicide numbers in the coaching hub are spiking. In a statement, the institute said that the programme was organised on “World Suicide Prevention Day” to address mental health and raise awareness on suicide prevention. During the programme themed “creating hope through action”, there was a discussion on strategies to reduce suicide rates, particularly among students, Allen said.
Founded by Rajesh Maheshwari in 1988, Allen Career Institute is a test-prep brand that has a monopoly in the test-preparation segment, especially in the city of Kota.
“...We have continuously worked towards establishing meaningful connections with all stakeholders to support the mental well-being of our students. Our collaboration with Kota Police is another step in our ongoing commitment to empower parents, educators, and students with the necessary knowledge and resources to effectively address this issue,” said Naveen Maheshwari, Director, Allen Career Institute.
This comes at a time when the number of student deaths is on the rise with many wilting under pressure amid cutthroat competition and exam pressure.
On September 5, a high-level empowered committee, formed by Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, recommended coaching institutes in Kota, Rajasthan, to reduce study hours and create a friendly environment for students by adding fun activities to their routine. This recommendation came after a marathon meeting of the state-level committee headed by Bhawani Singh Detha, Principal Secretary (higher and technical education), was held with experts and representatives of social welfare organisations, and spiritual and yoga communities, to seek their suggestions on improving student welfare in Kota.
'Connect with society, families'
Panellists in the discussion included Inspector General of Kota Police, Prasanna Kumar Khamesra; Kota City Police Commissioner, Sharad Chaudhary; Principal of Kota Medical College, Dr. Sangeeta Saxena; Former Director of the Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences, Dr. Nimesh G. Desai; Chief Medical Health Officer Kota, Dr. Jagdish Soni; and psychiatrists Dr. M.L. Agrawal, Dr. Vinod Dadia, and Sadhvi Anadi Saraswati.
In the panel, the panellists encouraged students to not hesitate in seeking support from certified professionals.
"It is essential that students participate actively in society and connect with their families and people around them. I would like to tell students that talking to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counsellor is not a bad thing. You should meet them and share your thoughts," said Dr. Nimesh G. Desai, a former director of the Institute of Institute of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences.
The programme also saw discussions on the importance of early detection of mental distress among students and making interventions to prevent their mental health from deteriorating, Allen said.
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