It was just the other day when neighborhood children came running after school, holding out pamphlets from Max Healthcare in their hands. We were all first surprised and then astonished at the thought of Max Healthcare.

The pamphlet talked about Max Healthcare School Programme, an initiative to keep children smiling and bubbling with energy always. At Max Healthcare, they believe children across different age groups display unique growth and development characteristics, and have a variety of needs in physical, psychological, social, educational, vocational, and emotional areas. In order to provide an environment for their optimal development these needs have to be appreciated, identified and catered to.

Since, children spend their most formative years in school where their behaviors are inspired and influenced by the teachers and their peer groups; the school environment plays an important role in molding children's characteristics.

Max Healthcare Children Programme recognizes that children's thoughts, behaviors, and needs are different from those of adults Max Healthcare organizes various comprehensive programmes specifically meant for school children and their health.

These programmes are divided under three broad categories – the School Mental Health Programme, Pro-social peer Programme, and Educational Programmes. To briefly explain each of these programmes; let us take a look at them one by one.

The School Mental Health Programme is designed by The Department of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences at Max Healthcare for schools, to ensure all round development of children. The programme gives the schools guidance to handle problems of school children, based on the latest research and scientific evidences.

The Pro-social peer Programme is based on social learning theory and has been used widely with children and adolescents. Since in the growing up years the influence of peers attains utmost importance, it is found that this programme can reduce and prevent the occurrence of problems such as risk taking behaviors, aggression and violence, substance abuse, and delinquency. This programme can be utilized for the development of a healthy personality and imparting skills.

The primary emphasis is on learning through observation, wherein, the students who are trained became role models for their peers and help other children in learning more adaptive forms of behavior.

Last but not the least, the Educational Programmes that are further categorized as School Counsellor Certificate Programme- a six month certificate course offered by Max Healthcare Department of Mental Health and Behavioral Sciences for training of School Counsellors. And the Courses for Psychology Students - different courses for Psychology students on various aspects of Mental Health offered with a view to help them deal with the complexities of clinical situations with a competent and scientific approach.

Having gone through all this, I and the other parents were rest assured that Max healthcare at school is a boon in disguise for our children.