PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF PRIMARY SCHOOL GOING STUDENTS OF DHAKA

Abstract

The present study was conducted with the following objectives: (a) assessing
the mental health and psychological understanding among the primary school
going students through the respective stakeholder's views, (b) investigating the
psychological needs of primary school going students, (c) identifying the gaps
between provided psychological services and required demands among students
and (d) collecting relevant and consistent data and information to plan future
interventions and produce hypothesis for further study. Since it was a qualitative
study, 16 focus group discussions (FGDs), 39 interviews, and several
observations in four schools were made with 123 purposive samples (73 primary
school going students, 21 parents, and 29 mental health workers and other staff).
For the assessment, two self-made guidelines for different stakeholders and
thematic analysis for data analysis were used in this present study. The results
showed that most of the primary school going especially the govt. and madrasah
going students are not aware of their mental health while bearing a lot of
symptoms of behavioral, emotional, and psychological issues, but students from
private English medium schools possess sound knowledge about it. The results
also indicated that there is a huge gap between psychological burdens and
provided services. The absence of culturally validated assessment tools and
intervention techniques, collaboration among different professionals, and lack of
subject experts and funds were also evident. Thus, to have healthy and welladjusted
future generations, measures should be taken immediately.