Bengaluru: To address growing mental health concerns among students, the department of school education and literacy will appoint a mental health resource person in every block resource centre across Karnataka from Sept 2026.The counsellors will be engaged on a six-month consultancy and will serve govt high schools and undergraduate colleges within their jurisdiction. They may also extend support to primary school students when required.Each counsellor will visit all govt high schools and undergraduate colleges in their area every month, providing individual and group counselling and conducting awareness programmes on emotional well-being, stress management, peer relationships, and safe digital practices. They will also interact with teachers, parents and other stakeholders.Their responsibilities include training teachers to identify behavioural and emotional issues, enabling early identification of at-risk students, maintaining counselling records, and providing support for exam stress, peer pressure, and emotional regulation. Cases requiring specialised care will be referred to the health department or mental health professionals. The initiative also aims to strengthen school wellness teams and improve coordination among teachers, heads of institutions, parents, and other stakeholders.The recruitment process will be completed by Aug 20, with consultants expected to begin work in Sept. Applications will be invited taluk-wise, and shortlisted candidates will be selected through interviews. Applicants must hold an MA or MSc in psychology, clinical psychology, counselling psychology or a related discipline, have at least one year of experience in school or community mental health, and be proficient in Kannada, English and basic computer applications.
