In a move set to redefine holistic education, the Andhra Pradesh government is integrating mental health and career guidance into the school system, reaffirming its commitment to the emotional well-being and future readiness of students.

Speaking at the inauguration of a seven-day residential training programme at Maris Stella College, Vijayawada, M R Prasanna Kumar, Assistant State Project Director of Samagra Shiksha, said the initiative marks a transformative step towards creating emotionally resilient and career-focused learners.

The training, organised jointly by Samagra Shiksha, EdCIL, and UNICEF, is being conducted for the Project Management Unit (PMU) and District Counsellors under the Mental Health and Career Guidance Project.

Expanding the mental health network

Highlighting the scale of the initiative, Mr. Prasanna Kumar announced that 255 mental health counsellors have already been appointed across the State, with plans underway to deploy one counsellor in every mandal — a total of 679 counsellors. “This will be a milestone in strengthening emotional and career guidance systems in schools across Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

M V Krishna Reddy, Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), urged trained counsellors to provide sustained mentoring, especially for adolescents in classes 9 to 12 — a stage he described as critical for emotional stability and career clarity.

Addressing modern emotional challenges

Senior psychiatrist Indla Ramasubba Reddy, Director of Indlas Hospitals, drew attention to the growing emotional and behavioural struggles among youth, including relationship stress, addiction, and anxiety.

He cautioned that these are not mere disciplinary lapses but “manifestations of deeper psychological shifts influenced by media exposure, peer pressure, and digital dependency.”

Dr. Reddy underscored the need for professional counselling, adding that while parental affection is vital, it cannot replace structured psychological guidance. “Without professional intervention, adolescents often internalize guilt or rebel against well-meaning advice,” he said.

The event also saw participation from B. Ashok Kumar, Research Scholar at NIMHANS, consultants from UNICEF, representatives from Leadership for Equity, and MHITR founder R S V N Sharma, among others — all voicing a shared commitment to embedding mental wellness and informed career planning at the heart of education in Andhra Pradesh.