Chennai [India], April 19 (ANI): Tamil Nadu has become the first state in India to make school mental-health officers mandatory, with all government and aided schools enrolling over 500 students required to appoint a dedicated counsellor within 12 months.
Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said the move responds to rising reports of student suicides and exam-related distress. The state will fund 8,400 new counsellor positions and partner with NIMHANS for training.
Health economists called the scale unprecedented nationally and said success will hinge on retaining trained professionals in rural districts. (ANI)
