VISAKHAPATNAM: Measures initiated by the district administration, King George Hospital (KGH) and the Education Department in North Andhra to conduct counselling sessions or set up centres in the last couple of years to tackle student depression cases, do not seem to be fruitful.
In Visakhapatnam district, a couple of years ago, a toll-free number was set up at the KGH so that students suffering from depression could call up and avail of counselling even over phone and also at the centre. Gradually, the initiative faded out due to lack of strength and adequate funds.
“It requires about `1 to `1.5 lakh per month to run such a counselling centre in the city by appointing a couple of qualified psychiatrists or even mental health counsellors who should work in shifts round the clock. Unfortunately, lack of funds led the initiative to die,” said a KGH official.
Meanwhile, the district Education department has launched an initiative by putting an additional responsibility on class teachers to act as counsellors to the students. The officials thought that it would be a cost-effective measure, but it wasn’t completely fruitful.
District Education Officer Lingeswara Reddy said, “In Visakhapatnam district, we are asking class teachers to act as counsellors by speaking to students in case of depression or any other problem faced by them. We are continuously monitoring the initiative.”
Similarly in Srikakulam district, the Education department has kept boxes in schools and colleges asking students to drop letters stating issues even if they undergo pressure or feel depressed thoughts. A separate committee has been constituted to check those issues, but nothing has worked out.
At present, there is only one counselling centre and that too One Stop Centre for victims of domestic violence in North Andhra.
However, officials from the centre say that they are also ready to counsel depressed students, but none approaches them.