Highlighting that mental distress affects all age groups, Gen Malik noted that early intervention in schools yields long-term results and urged teachers to sustain wellness modules through continuous monitoring Chandigarh: Drawing a parallel between military warfare and mental health care, former Chief of Army Staff General VP Malik called on educators to adopt an unyielding, frontline mindset to safeguard the psychological well-being of school children.Addressing educators during an event reviewing student wellness initiatives, Gen Malik emphasised that mental health interventions must begin early in schools to counter stiff competition from digital distractions and smartphone exposure.“In the Army, we train ourselves only to win a war,” Gen Malik said. “Losing is just not in our thoughts; for us, it always has to be number one, you cannot be number two. That is the kind of struggle today we have to overcome to address the mental health problems that our country, and the world, is facing.”Highlighting that mental distress affects all age groups, Gen Malik noted that early intervention in schools yields long-term results and urged teachers to sustain wellness modules through continuous monitoring. “Starting with parents who inadvertently influence the children, smartphones that kids spend so much time on, and other external exposures, it’s a stiff competition,” he stated. “The sustainability of this is your job now. You have to sustain this module and carry on with it for some years to come.”The address builds on Project SAATHI, conceived in Nov 2024 by the CCF Focus Group on Mental Health following a rise in student suicides. Launched by the UT administrator in Jan 2025, the project facilitated GMCH and PGIMER clinicians to train 87 school counsellors, including 21 master trainers.The initiative has rolled out sessions across selected govt schools using partner organisations. Krishnamacharya Ashtanga Viniyoga (KAVY) covered over 3,000 students in Classes 7, 8, and 9 across four schools (Sectors 16, 18, 33, and 39), while Isha Foundation and Brahma Kumaris conducted life-skills sessions for students in other institutions.Additionally, 35 teachers have undergone yoga training during examination holidays, with online evening teacher sessions set to begin this month. The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) will study the programme’s impact across the four KAVY schools to evaluate expanding the model across other govt and private schools in Chandigarh.
