Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan chaired a high-level review meeting on the proposed National Mental Health & Well-Being Policy for Schools, bringing together senior officials, committee members, and domain experts to discuss strategies for strengthening mental well-being across the school ecosystem.
The deliberations focused on promoting the mental health of students, teachers, and the wider school community through a holistic, preventive, and inclusive approach. Emphasising the growing importance of emotional well-being in education, the Minister stressed the need to create school environments that are safe, supportive, and conducive to overall development.
A key focus of the proposed policy is to foster a positive school culture rooted in empathy, care, trust, and emotional resilience. Discussions also highlighted the importance of integrating mental health and well-being into school systems, classroom practices, and institutional frameworks as an essential component of quality education.
The review meeting underscored the role of teachers as the first level of mentors and support for students, enabling early identification of concerns and promoting emotional well-being within schools. The proposed framework also seeks to draw upon Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) and cultural values to ensure that the policy remains practical, contextual, and relevant to India’s diverse educational landscape.
According to the Ministry, the policy aims to embed mental health and well-being into the everyday functioning of schools while equipping students with the emotional strength and resilience needed to navigate academic and personal challenges.
The initiative is expected to play a significant role in building healthier learning environments and advancing the vision of a more inclusive, student-centric, and holistic education system across the country.
