Amid a spate of teen suicides across the globe induced by the twisted Blue Whale challenge, a school near Jamshedpur won plaudits for walking the extra mile to ensure the emotional well-being of its students on World Suicide Prevention Day on Sunday.
At an event at SNTI Auditorium in Bistupur, Jamshedpur, Jeevan - the state's lone suicide prevention centre - awarded the winner's trophy to Mount Litera Zee School at Pardih on steel city outskirts for taking unique initiatives to tackle student stress and prevent them from taking the extreme step.
The runner-up award went to Sant Nandalal Smriti Vidya Mandir, Ghatshila.
Mount Litera Zee School was adjudged the winner for their innovative and simple model. The school ensures that it completes its syllabi on time so that students don't spend sleepless nights worrying before exams. It follows a no-homework policy and the teachers are encouraged to be counsellors so that children can approach them in need.
Manoj Sahoo, a psychiatrist with Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur, held a session on avoiding addiction to online games with special reference to the Blue Whale menace.
Advising parents to keep a watchful eye on sudden behavioural changes in children, he said, "Engage them more in extra-curricular activities. Games like Blue Whale entice students who are emotionally weak or need guidance. More than the game, students are prone to online addiction. It is good that Jamshedpur schools are making an effort to give a happy childhood to its students."
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatia, the co-ordinator for school programmes at Jeevan, said how a school provides a proper ambience for students encourages their good mental health. "A lot depends on the school," Bhatia said.
In the run-up to suicide prevention day, Jeevan had sent a questionnaire to 30 schools in and around the city on action taken to reduce stress and motivate children. Eleven schools took part in the competition and were judged on parameters of innovation, student outreach programmes and the frequency of such activities.
Winners of a skit contest on stress management held on August 26 were also awarded at the event on Sunday.
Sakchi's ADLS Sunshine School won the first prize, followed by Kerala Samajam Model School and Sant Nandalal Smriti Vidya Mandir in Ghatshila.
