Impact of life skills

Impact of life skill sessions in School Name of the Program – Focus group discussion on life skills with the children in urban school at Kolkata. Objective of the program - To develop psychosocial competence through life skills and assess an impact of life skills on sixteen students in class VIII at Bangur Avenue High School for Girls. We focused on several life skills which as follows: • Self awareness • Self esteem • Communication and Inter personal relationship • Management of emotion • Study Skills We have found that there was s huge changes in students classroom behavior, academic performance, and attendance by practicing of life skills. Some case studies shows how student’s attitude and behavior has changed. Case study-1 One student of Bangur Avenue High School For Girls, read in class VIII,attended the life skill sessions in regular manner. She shared that she lied

too much in the class, inattentive and she doesnot want to come in school. In classroom no one talk to her except her best friend. She has many friends who are elder than her in school. She felt that she was very inferior and no one like her in the class. She has an ability of singing and dancing. After attaining life skills sessions some changes are being observed in her. She has built her proper self esteem by searching positive qualities in her and interpersonal relationship with friends which was hampered is now in stable condition. Friends like her. She is trying to overcome her hurdles and depressive feature slowly. She is now participating in extra curricular activities and gets back her confidence. Her class attendance is now improving, class performance shows that she is attentive and serious about her studies. She realizes that telling lie is not the way to protect her. According to her, honesty makes perfection. Individual counseling process is continuing with her. Case study-2 Another student also attended the life skills sessions in a regular basis. She shared that, she was not confident on herself. Her memorization capacity was not so good. She could not manage her emotions. So she quarreled with her friends very frequently. She does not listen any word of her friends. She feels she is perfect and right all the time. She could not share anything with friends. After attaining life skill sessions a great change is being observed in her. Now, she can manage her own emotions; don’t react in front of the friend circle, her listening capacity is improved, friends share their problems with her and she maintain confidentiality. So, trust worthiness is developed among the friends. For studies; she is bringing out new method of memorizing. Teachers’ Feedback: One of the teacher shared that a change has been perceived among the students. Students’ performance has improved. An overall changes has observed (such as-class room behavior, attendance, exam result). She request the resource persons of Mon Foundation to take the sessions for class VII.She said particularly one of the student who was very inattentive and ‘kharap chilo’, now she become very serious and perform well in studies. Another teacher said that, class VIII, is now vocal, participates in different activities, helping attitude is developed, class performance is improved and overall attitude and behavior is changed among the students. The students are applying those skills in their daily life.

Mon Foundation:

Mon Foundation:
Some snaps of workshop on cbt on 6th April, 2012.

Mon Foundation:

Mon Foundation:
Workshop on Cognitive Behaviour Therapy held on 6th April, 2012.

Recent activities..

Recent Activities of Mon Foundation

In 2008, we have completed a short-term project – “Awareness generation and an exploratory study on corporal punishment’ with the support of  

‘Save the children, U. K.’ A book on punishment in school (Vidyalaye Shasti – in Bengali) has developed under this project.

  In 2009, we have completed a three months short-term (from 24.07.09 – 23.10.09) pilot project – “Developing community volunteers to provide psycho-social support for Aila – affected children” with the support of ‘UNICEF’ Kolkata.

We also conducted a short program “Providing psychosocial support to Child Domestic Workers through need based counseling session and life skills training to empower them” with the objective of develop psychosocial competence among the trainees (domestic worker), of vocational training programme of Beautician course, through life skills training with the support of Save the Children, Kolkata on 2011.

Mon Foundation

                                                              INTRODUCTION

Mon Foundation    is a non profit earning organization in Kolkata, registered under Societies of West Bengal Act XXVI of 1961. A group of mental health professionals i.e. Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Counselors, Psychiatric social workers runs this organization since 1992.

The focus of Mon Foundation has been primarily been in the area of mental health – Awareness, Care, Research, Training and Publication.

Philosophy of the Organization

The guiding philosophy behind Mon Foundation is our belief that mental health affects all facets of an individuals life – physical, social, interpersonal, occupational, economic and spiritual. Therefore an all round effort is necessary to prevent the impairment and treating it as early as possible so as to limit the disability.”

Aims and Objectives

Our mission is to enhance psychosocial competence in an individual and reduce the suffering caused by mental health problems.

We aim to improve the quality of life for the sufferers and their caregivers.

1. To promote mental health awareness.
2. To conduct research and offer training in mental health and related fields.
3. To work in the area of child mental health- research and planning of intervention strategies.
4. To conduct advocacy programmes with other government and non- government agencies regarding mental health issues.

Activities

It has been 16 years since Mon Foundation came into existence. In these years many activities have been targeted to bring into focus mental health issues before the larger community.

 Our Projects :

We have been running “Mental Health Programme for Children since last 11 years, with the support from Child Rights and You (CRY). Here our effort is to develop a school-based mental health programme as well as introduction of Life Skills as part of the school curriculum.  Almost 52,000 children (directly & indirectly) had been covered by us through CRY supported programme.

We have been able to reach out a more vulnerable and marginalized group of children (Child Labour) through the National Child Labour Project (NCLP), supported by Save the Children, UK.

  

 Research and research tool development:

We are doing researches on different issues of Children’s mental health like “Prevalence of mental health problems among urban & rural deprived children with reference to urban and rural stressors”, “Exploratory study on Corporal punishment” in Schools, “Psychosocial stressors among Child Domestic Workers” in Delhi.

We have developed Children mental health and socio-economic assessment questionnaire (CMSCAQ), Questionnaire to assess stressors among CDW, Questionnaire on corporal punishment for students and teachers.

 Training:

Resource persons of Mon Foundation provide training programme to GNM students of Nurse’s Training Centre, ESI Hospital, PG students of J.D. Birla Institute of Home Science.

Teachers core group and Students core group:

We have formed “Teachers core group” from representatives of different schools who take active role in the development of process and modalities for policy advocacy on students’ mental health issues.

Student core group in the urban schools and Youth group in the rural areas have been formed to make them aware of mental health and to develop their psychosocial competency.

 Counseling:

Mon foundation provides counseling services to children having mental health problems.

 Awareness Programme:

Awareness programme with multi stake holders like teachers, parents, community people, panchayat members, local political leaders etc have been going on regarding Mental health and its different aspects.

 Advocacy and Networking:

Regular advocacy with policy makers, media, opinion leaders and especially government organization was carried out throughout the last year. Government department and organizations covered are as follows:

West Bengal Board of Primary Education

West Bengal Board of Secondary Education

West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education.

West Bengal Primary Teachers Association.

Mon Foundation is a member organization of FMHM (Forum for Mental Health Movement) and through FMHM we create awareness & advocacy to the policy makers on various issues of Mental Health.

Mon Foundation provide training programme on Mental health problems, Inclusive education, Life skills education to district coordinator of WBEN (West Bengal Education Network).

 Information, Education and Communication Material:

Publication has been an area where we have tried to place a great deal of emphasis.

Our published books are-

•   Mental Health Problems Of school Children(A guide book for teachers)
•   Chatra-Chatrider Manosik Sastha Samasya
•   Kishor-Kishorider Manosik Sastha Samasya
•   Porasona Kemon vabe
•   Poruader Chokhe Iskool
•   Moner Asukh
•   Bissanata
•   Na bola
•   Bisash Kake Karbe? Kano Karbe?
•   Jibankusolata Sikha: Prasikhan nirdesika

Future Plan and Vision

Our goal is to reach as much as possible to spread awareness regarding mental health issues and its relevance in the life of the children. To draw the attention of the Government to the issue of mental health and to ensure its integration into the school policies and programmes. We would like to see mental health promotion activities promoted as a part of school curriculum and syllabus. We hope that as a result of regular life skills classes we would be able to develop a generation of children who are competent psychologically to deal with most of the stresses in their lives.

How can you help?

Voluntary help – acting out of choice and free will.

We would be happy if you join with us and share our goal to achieve it.

You could help us –

By offering grants / funds for projects.

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