Mangaluru: In order to check suicides among schoolchildren , especially those facing the board examinations, and to relieve them of unwanted stress, the District Mental Health (DMH) team has strengthened its network to provide timely counselling. Any student who needs counselling or help with mental health can call-9980017234.Dr Ramakrishna Rao, district health officer, Dakshina Kannada, told reporters that in addition to reaching out to students, camps have also been held to create awareness among parents and teachers. The idea of these camps is to sensitise elders towards the interests of their wards.The DMH team, that was launched around three years ago, primarily comprise a psychiatrist, a psychologist and a social worker, which has already reached out to numerous students in distress across the district, Dr Rao said.According to him, the helpline number has been passed to all schools. The school management or teachers could contact the team asking them to help out their students. Dr Ratnakar, nodal officer, DMH, said students in distress will be counselled in a separate room to maintain privacy and their health will be constantly monitored.The primary objective of the mission is to unearth the fear that is instilled in the young minds, he said.Currently, the team is undertaking weekly camps. The members visit Bantwal taluk on the first Tuesday of the month, Puttur on the second Tuesday and Belthangady on the third. It visits schools in Kadaba on the first Friday of the month and Moodbidri in the second week.Dr Ratnakar said the team receives around 10-15 calls per week.

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