Mrs. Fazna Ahmed, the esteemed First Lady, officiated the inauguration ceremony of the Psychological First Aid Helpline, dedicated to providing assistance to students. This initiative was established through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Education, with invaluable support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Students can access the helpline by dialing 1484, which serves as a vital resource for addressing their mental health concerns and ensuring their psychosocial well-being.
The primary objective of establishing this helpline is to establish a formal framework through which students can seek comprehensive support for their mental health and psychosocial needs. This is achieved by fortifying the school counseling service, leveraging the expertise of existing counselors to assist students nationwide, and minimizing the number of children requiring clinical intervention by providing accessible help and promoting early intervention. Moreover, the helpline will identify and cater to students who can benefit from support at the school level.
The helpline operates as a confidential service, manned by proficient counselors who possess the necessary training to offer guidance and support. It is important to note, however, that the helpline does not substitute medical care and should not be contacted during emergencies that necessitate immediate medical attention. The helpline is available from Saturday to Thursday, between the hours of 1500hrs and 2100hrs, diligently serving the needs of students.
