Importance of Mental Health Education in College Curriculum

This paper attempts to study how curriculum is based on following modules Positive Psychology, Social Emotional Learning, Social Psychology and Mental Health Literacy can be adopted for colleges. When one hears the word ‘curriculum’ in the context of mental health, it might seem bewildering. What could the contents be and how would this be imparted to school students? First, why is it important? Data shows the growing prevalence of mental illnesses, especially among children and adolescents. Close to 15 million individuals are battling some form of mental health related illness or other in India; 10% of all children suffer from some form of mental health issue and more than 50% of these go untreated. Many more are undetected. Depression is now the single largest illness in the world; suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults; and almost half of all mental illnesses begin by the age of 14. At the same time, the psychosocial stressors experienced by children cannot be ignored either. These include the growing pressure of academics and competitive entrance examinations, and even exposure to media, which seems to invade almost every aspect of our lives. Children and adolescents are particularly vulnerable given the impact on their self-esteem, and a positive body image contributing to overall psychological well-being. Adolescence and young adulthood are globally recognized as periods marked by opportunities for development and the emergence of mental health vulnerabilities. The high prevalence of common mental health problems during adolescence and young adulthood, the substantial treatment gap, and multiple barriers to helpseeking at this age highlight the need for comprehensive, campus-based youth mental health approaches grounded in sociocultural realities.India has one of the largest higher education systems globally, as well as a high proportion of youth, demographically. According to the 2018-2019 All India Survey on Higher Education, there are 993 universities and an average of 28 colleges per lakh of the eligible youth population. About 37.4 million youth are enrolled in institutes of higher education in India. This scenario presents both opportunities and challenges for addressing youth mental health needs