Bhubaneswar, Oct 7: The Odisha government has stepped up efforts to address growing mental health concerns among children, adolescents and young adults by introducing a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) aimed at promoting mental well-being across educational institutions.

The new guidelines cover children from Anganwadi centres to schools, colleges and universities. The move comes amid concerns over increasing stress, behavioural changes, anxiety, depression and, in some cases, suicidal tendencies among students.

Under the SOP, teachers, caregivers and educational staff have been directed to use supportive and reassuring language while communicating with children. They have been strictly advised against using derogatory labels such as “lazy” or “stubborn”, humiliating children in public or making comments that could lower their self-esteem.

The guidelines also recommend avoiding harsh or complicated medical terminology while interacting with children and instead using simple, sensitive and reassuring language.

According to the SOP, persistent behavioural changes, sadness, fear, aggression or other unusual symptoms lasting for more than two weeks should be treated as warning signs. Such children are to be provided with counselling, support, close monitoring and, where necessary, referred to appropriate mental health professionals.

The guidelines classify children and students into three categories—green, yellow and red—based on the severity of their behavioural or mental health concerns. The classification will help determine the level of care, monitoring and intervention required.

The government has also emphasised measures to reduce academic and examination-related stress. The SOP recommends a five-minute break after every 25 minutes of study, along with deep-breathing exercises and regular sleep habits for students.

For students in higher education, the guidelines recognise challenges such as living away from home, ragging, discrimination, relationship failures and substance abuse as potential factors affecting mental health. Higher education institutions have been directed to establish dedicated Mental Health and Well-being Centres to provide comprehensive support to students.

The SOP further calls for regular mental health awareness programmes, early identification of problems, timely intervention, monitoring and reporting mechanisms across educational institutions.

The guidelines have been issued based on the state government's report titled “Operational Guidelines on Mental Health and Well-being of Children, Adolescents and Young Adults.”

Through the initiative, the government aims to ensure that mental health concerns among young people are identified at an early stage and that timely support is provided before problems become more serious.