Chandigarh, Nov. 12 -- A sudden outburst of rage in the classroom, a child withdrawing from friends, a sharp fall in academic performance or repeated refusal to attend school may be more than a disciplinary problem.

Under the evolving framework for mental health support in schools, such changes are expected to be identified early and addressed through counselling and, where necessary, specialised intervention. The process is meant to begin with teachers and other school staff noticing warning signs and referring the student for support.

The issue assumes significance in UT, where the education department says counselling services are available across government schools. However, the UT has 111 government schools and 85 counsellors, with...