By TOI Education

Copyright indiatimes

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a Virtual Mental Health Series for principals, teachers, counselors, parents, and students of CBSE-affiliated schools. The initiative will be conducted in collaboration with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, from October 4 to 10, 2025, to mark World Mental Health Week.According to CBSE, the programme aims to promote mental well-being, reduce stigma, and build psychological resilience in school communities. The series will culminate on World Mental Health Day, October 10.Focus areas and objectivesThe series is designed to address urgent mental health challenges in school communities. CBSE has outlined three main objectives to ensure practical impact:Raise awareness and address stigma related to mental health.Provide educators, counselors, parents, and students with practical strategies to manage psychological challenges.Encourage sustained positive mental health practices within school environments.Experts from AIIMS’ Department of Psychiatry and Counselling Services will lead the sessions.Key features of the programmeThe programme combines expert guidance with accessibility, making sessions practical and actionable for all stakeholders. Key aspects include:Duration: Daily sessions between 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. IST (approx. 45 minutes to one hour).Format: Evidence-based discussions on pressing mental health concerns in schools.Access: Sessions will be conducted virtually through Webex. Attendance will be restricted to 1,000 participants per session, on a first-come, first-served basis.Schedule of sessionsEach day features a specialist addressing a specific aspect of school mental health. The schedule is as follows:DateSpeaker & DesignationTopicOctober 4, 2025Prof. Dr. M. Srinivas, Director, AIIMSHealth, Nutrition and Emotional HealthOctober 5, 2025Himanshu Gupta, Secretary, CBSEHow to Tackle StressOctober 6, 2025Prof. Dr. Pratap Sharan, Head, Dept. of Psychiatry, AIIMSPositive Mental HealthOctober 7, 2025Prof. Dr. Nand Kumar, Dept. of Psychiatry, AIIMSHappy Gut, Healthy BrainOctober 8, 2025Prof. Dr. Rajesh Sagar, Dept. of Psychiatry, AIIMSHigh Risk Behaviour in AdolescentsOctober 10, 2025Dr. Deepika Dahima, Scientist C., Dept. of Psychiatry, AIIMSBetween Screens and Selves: Resilience in Digital AgeCBSE statementThe board stated that the sessions are intended to make mental health resources more accessible to school communities nationwide and to provide direct guidance from medical experts. CBSE emphasised that the series is designed to help stakeholders deal with academic stress, emotional health issues, and behavioural challenges in students.Significance of the initiativeThe initiative holds significance at a time when schools are reporting rising cases of academic stress, anxiety, and digital dependency among students. By engaging medical experts directly with educators, parents, and learners, CBSE aims to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and classroom realities. The programme underscores the growing recognition that mental health is integral to academic performance and overall well-being, not an auxiliary concern.Candidates can click on the link provided here to watch the live sessions of the CBSE mental health sessions.Ready to navigate global policies? Secure your overseas future. Get expert guidance now!