Maharashtra Board plans year-round student counselling, addiction support

Pune: The Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) is set to launch a comprehensive, year-round counselling initiative for students to address rising concerns over mental health and substance abuse.The board is currently finalising a memorandum of understanding with the Muktangan Rehabilitation Centre.Moving beyond traditional exam-time assistance, the programme will focus on mental health, addiction prevention, and career guidance.Trigun Kulkarni, chairperson of the state board, emphasised that the current system of providing counsellor contacts only during examination periods is no longer sufficient.“The age of addiction among children is dropping drastically, and we frequently hear of students taking extreme steps due to various pressures,” Kulkarni said. “We want to provide children with the tools to manage stress throughout the year. We will be signing a non-financial, three-year MoU with Muktangan. Their experts will provide counselling and career guidance, and in the future, we may even provide them with dedicated space within the state board office to operate this project.”Founded in 1986, the Muktangan Rehabilitation Centre is a leader in the field of drug and alcohol de-addiction and operates various recovery support groups. Mukta Puntambekar, director of the centre, noted that the initiative aims to reach students in both urban and rural schools across the state.“Counselling usually starts just before or during exams, but it is far more effective if we teach students stress management from the very beginning of the academic year,” Puntambekar said.As part of the initiative, the centre plans to produce educational videos covering stress identification, management, exercise, and diet. These resources are designed to help students build daily habits for mental resilience. Additional content will address peer pressure, the dangers of addiction, and how to seek help. “We will also engage with students to find out what specific help they need and tailor our video content accordingly,” Puntambekar added.A key feature of the partnership is a dedicated helpline. While the agreement is non-financial, the centre will appoint specific staff to manage the lines during office hours on working days. The service will not be limited to Class X and XII students; students from any grade are encouraged to reach out.“Students are also welcome to meet our counsellors in person if they feel the need,” Puntambekar said, adding that the helpline numbers will be published shortly. The programme will also include awareness sessions conducted in schools through both online and offline modes.