Chandigarh Commission for Protection of Child Rights in collaboration with Government Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh organised a Two day training programme for School Counsellors. The objective of the training programme to better equip school counsellors to enable them to understand how to manage Covid-19 related stress, fear and anxiety, and provide them a toolkit to better manage child related issues. The topics covered during programme are understanding emotional needs of the children and vulnerable children, signs of psychological distress needing specialized help, helping children deal with stressful & painful events, handling highlighted risks of violence, abuse and exploitation, Counselling Activities & worksheets for children & adolescents, and toolkit for age group (6-10) & (11-18). While speaking on the occasion Mrs. Harjinder Kaur, Chairperson, CCPCR said,” While school closure is recognized as a successful preventive strategy for the spread of COVID-19, it might also have high psychosocial and educational costs. Social isolation, for instance, may lead to reduced peer and support networks for children.
In addition, teachers could be unprepared for them after joining schools, therefore CCPCR organized a training programme for school counselors to reduce the risk for children.”Dr. Karuna Singh, in her address highlighted that, "During pandemic we have to normalize the grieving process, by talking about it and to be realistic in expectations from students as they are now coming back to school". Dr. Arzoo, in her session "Counselling workbook and Toolkit (6-10) & (11-18) age group ", she highlighted Vigilant about changes in children after the pandemic. Make the structure while counselling of the problems . While dealing with children, the programme should cover external & internal factors, insity and frequencies". This will Channelize counsellors volunteers energy in forcing on problems".Dr Priti Arun, HOD, Department of Psychiatry said, "We are thankful to CCPCR for organizing the training programme. This will be especially helpful as schools are reopening soon". Ms Niti Mohan, Programme Convenor said, " A total of 104 Counsellors from various government school participated in the programme. From these learning, Commission with work with Education Department in framing advisory for children returning to school". The dissemination of the session through the group activity was evaluated by Dr Monica Singh & Ms Pooja Punchhi members CCPCR. 6 Counsellors were awarded on the occasion for the dissemination.