First Lady Fazna Ahmed has inaugurated the Psychological First Aid Helpline for students.
The inauguration ceremony was held on Tuesday.
The helpline was established by the Ministry of Education, with the support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).
The helpline number is 1484 and is available from Saturday through Thursday from 3pm to 9pm.
The number is available to all students who need support with their mental health and psychosocial well-being.
Established with an aim to provide a formal mechanism for students to seek mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS), the helpline will assist in the identification of students who could be supported at the school level.
The initiation also aims to strengthen school counselling services, utilize existing counsellors to provide MHPSS to students across the country and to reduce the number of children who require clinical intervention by ensuring access to help and facilitating early intervention.
The helpline is a confidential service for students.
The helpline will be staffed by trained counsellors who can provide support and guidance and is not a substitute for medical care.
As such, the helpline will not be used in emergencies requiring immediate medical attention.
