Training counsellors for lifestyle issues: Survey to speak and deal about the unsaid

AbstractThe times are changing fast and so are families and lifestyles. There is immense perceived pressure on all age groups with consequent mental health issues. This brings a need to identify issues and design interventions for those feeling the stress and challenge in relationships. Training counsellors to be a part of the care giving at the school level in the Indian context has also to bring in the new, not so discussed, issues. The study has been done with the objectives of finding and compiling issues on the new challenges (over engaged dual working parents, digital distractions, peer pressure, the need to look nice and seeking belongingness and more such contemporary issues); drawing out possible content in terms of intervention and specifying the stakeholders who can be included; the challenges on denial mode or uncooperative behaviour of one or more significant others; and the creative approach possible by the counsellors at the school (including school teachers, observations from peers and such possibilities. Self-developed questionnaire was developed with 30 items under 5 subheads. The recent trained counsellors, present batch of counsellors and pupil teachers (N=200) were included. The findings brought out stereotyped issues such as conservative approach of the parents, school hierarchy as a barrier, ignorance and denial, OTTs and movies bringing new ideas and approach to relationships, and more such reasons as the affecting causes to mental health chaos and making children over confident (some under-confident under peer/parental pressure). Friendly counsellors, group activities and sessions talking about the ‘hush-hush’ topics avoided otherwise, breaking the hierarchy in redressal mechanisms, and protecting the counsellors were some suggestions.