Plea in High Court seeking online mindfulness classes including Meditation, Yoga

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the High Court of Delhi seeking directions to the Centre to provide online mindfulness classes - meditation/yoga/relaxation - for all Govt & private school students to release stress, anxiety, depression & other mental illnesses during the lockdown period.

The plea, moved by Lawyer Anshul Bajaj & Advocate Sonali Tiwary, seeks directions to Union Human Resource Development & states that the outbreak of coronavirus which led to a nationwide lockdown has given rise to many mental health issues.

A sense of confinement that has settled in people's minds, more particularly among students, is giving rise to a series of mental health issues, it says.

The plea says suicide rates have gone up especially among those addicted to alcohol or other substances who can no longer access these with ease.

The petitioners made a representation on May 27, 2020 to the respondent to provide mindfulness classes for students but nothing has done till date, the petition claims.

It also states that anxiety, frustration, panic attacks, loss or sudden increase of appetite, insomnia, depression, mood swings, delusions, fear, & suicidal tendencies, have become quite common during the lockdown.

Students with pre-existing psychological issues are unable to receive proper therapy on time or have had to go off prescription medication worsening their condition, it states, adding that many psychologists & experts have said that meditation, yoga & exercise are necessities for a stress-free life & have benefits such as improved thought process, increase in IQ Level & EQ level & help in being alert & discard any negative thoughts.

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