DSEJ’s Tele-counselling helpline “Aao Baat Karein” receives overwhelming nationwide support

Jammu: Tele-Counselling helpline (Aao Baat Karein) of Directorate of School Education Jammu getting an overwhelming nationwide support from counsellors/psychologists/practioners who have agreed to volunteer for the mental health initiatives being taken up by the Directorate.
Tele-Counselling helpline – ‘AAO Baat Karein’ which happens to be the brain child of Director School Education Jammu, Anuradha Gupta and was launched in February 2019, is providing professional guidance and counselling on multiple issues arisen out of Covid-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns by counseling Cell of Directorate of school education through a panel of clinical psychologists, counsellors, and counselling psychologists. In response to volunteer support sought by counselling cell more than 150 counsellors, psychologists, social workers, practioners, academicians, freelancers both JK UT and outside the state volunteered for the cause while many Tele-counsellors already working with CBSE Tele-counselling and helpline have also come forward.
The prominent organizations from where counsellors, psychologists, aluminis agreed to work for the cause are, Central University of Jammu, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Higher education department JK Government UT, Sainik School Nalanda, Bihar (Ministry of Defence, Govt of India) Bureau of psychology, UP, prayagraj, Chinmaya Mission Kerala, Childline India foundation, Amity University, Child welfare committees, Navodaya vidyalaya, Integrated rehabilitation centre for addicts, Army public Schools, Kurukshetra, UNICEF, District Legal Services Authority, Akal University Punjab, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan New Delhi, ,Christel house India international school naya Raipur, The Mother’s International School, Delhi, Harvest International School, Bangalore. Many professors, counsellors, CBSE counsellors, freelancers and students have agreed to support the tele counselling initiative.
In an online consultation held recently with volunteers from all over India Director School Education, has expressed her gratitude towards them and interacted with them at length on issues concerning well-being of students’ teachers and parents in this pandemic situation. She passed on the spot instructions to the counselling cell members to translate the discussions held into actionable points. She expressed her interest for teacher training on well-being and counselling skills. Sensing the post COVID-19 situation she also wanted action plans to be prepared on school mental health and psychological testing of students. Romesh Kumar Sharma, head counselling cell moderated the whole online interaction where he requested all the resource persons from all over India to offer their voluntary consultation for strengthening counselling/well-being system in school education department J&K Government.
Dr. Ashutosh Srivaastav national president Bhartiya Counselling Psychological Association suggested appointing permanent counsellors in schools, developing cadre of counsellors in school education department in view of psychological changes which will come in post COVID 19 situation. He also volunteered to offer technical support of BCPA to Helpline. Dr Deepa mohan, Associate Professor clinical psychology GITAM University focused on school mental health programme and gave various ideas about training assessment, screening and also volunteered to offer her services for the same.
Dr Geetanjali Kumari founding members CBSE Helpline, Visiting NIFT, NSUT, RCI Registered freelancer offered to provide her life time experienced consultation to counselling cell. She gave examples of many states who have used various methods for mass out reach. Dr Kumud Srivastava a wellbeing freelancer emphasized on happy parenting, capacity building of youth and engaging students positively. Dr Parmod Kumar from Sainik School Nalanda praised the efforts of counselling cell DSEJ and focused on career guidance space management and strengthening students teachers and Parents psychologically.
Dr Dakhsiani Kahana Counsellor/master trainer from Bangalore suggested forming a structured approach to mental health interventions. Rajesh Vasisth KVS counsellor called upon all the counsellors to use different media to popularize the cause of mental health well-being in this grim situation. Tina Bose, Counsellor from Calcutta emphasized on counselling of parents for well-being.
Dr. Vinay Kumar from Central university of Jammu emphasized upon life skills programmes. Dr. Nahida verma from Institute of career studies, Lucknow offered free of cost counselling to students from J&K. George A Thomas CBSE counsellor from Rajasthan suggested to incorporate value education and safe use of digital sources in training sessions of students. Pertinently Counselling cell at DSEJ is engaged in various well-being initiatives from students’ teachers and parents in this COVID -19 situation.