CBSE teacher workshop on Mental Wellness in Schools

A CBSE Capacity Building Programme titled “Promoting Mental Health and Wellness Among Students” was conducted on 27 June 2025 at The Indian School. The session was facilitated by two accomplished educators- Ms Tania Joshi, Principal of The Indian School, and Ms Nidhi Baghra, Mathematics Educator, Global Ambassador- All India Education Forum (AIEF), and Google Certified Educator. The programme focused on empowering educators with effective strategies to promote emotional well being and foster supportive environments in schools. The workshop was attended by 60 teachers of our School.

Ms Tania Joshi underscored the growing importance of mental health awareness among both students and educators. She discussed prevalent mental health challenges in school settings, such as anxiety, depression and behavioural changes, and highlighted key indicators that educators should be mindful about. She emphasised the role of school-based support systems, including counsellors and wellness centres, in identifying and addressing these concerns. Ms Joshi also suggested integrating coping mechanisms into school routines, such as encouraging hobbies, physical activity, creative expression, journaling and mindfulness practices like deep breathing and meditation, in order to help students manage stress and build emotional resilience.

A key activity invited teachers to pause and reflect whenever they noticed a shift in the mood—identifying the accompanying thoughts and recording them in an "Automatic Thoughts" column to gain deeper insight into their emotional patterns.

In addition, thoughtful discussions of case studies, complemented by the exchange of perspectives and practical strategies, made the session both intellectually engaging and deeply reflective.

Ms Nidhi Baghra focused on the importance of early intervention in safeguarding student well being. She introduced the 3R Framework- Recognise, Respond, Refer as a practical guide for educators to identify and respond to early signs of distress. She advocated the creation of joyful and emotionally secure classrooms and highlighted the value of active listening and the KYC (Know Your Child) approach to better understand individual learners. Ms Baghra highlighted the therapeutic power of music. To deepen this insight, teachers participated in a guided video session that enabled them to personally experience the profound impact of music on emotions and overall well being.

Ms Baghra also spoke about the critical need to support teacher mental health, and the importance of institutionalising well being practices through programmes such as the School Mental Health Programme (SMHP). She encouraged schools to form a dedicated School Mental Health Committee and referenced the WHO’s four-level mental health plan as a sustainable and structured framework for schools to adopt.

The session was highly informative and inspirational, offering practical tools and thoughtful insights for educators to integrate mental health support into everyday teaching practices. It reinforced the understanding that promoting mental wellness is a collective effort and a vital component for holistic education.