AKU-IED’s Ayesha Shahid Mehmood on Why Schools Must Move From Mental Health Awareness to Action
AKU-IED’s Ayesha Shahid Mehmood on Why Schools Must Move From Mental Health Awareness to Action
AKU
Media Source: ProPakistani (Pakistan)
Date: 7 October 2026
Pakistan’s children and adolescents are dealing with rising levels of stress, anxiety, bullying and social pressure, and schools are often where the first signs show up. A child labelled distracted or uninterested may in fact be struggling with something far deeper, yet many teachers have limited training in telling the…
Pakistan’s children and adolescents are dealing with rising levels of stress, anxiety, bullying and social pressure, and schools are often where the first signs show up. A child labelled distracted or uninterested may in fact be struggling with something far deeper, yet many teachers have limited training in telling the difference. To mark World Mental Health Day, ProPakistani spoke with Ayesha Shahid Mehmood, Assistant Manager for Inclusive and Special Needs Education (ISNE) at the Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development (AKU-IED). Drawing on her experience in education, she explains how schools can recognise warning signs early, why teachers need training built around their actual classroom concerns, and how parents, counsellors and administrators can share responsibility for student wellbeing instead of leaving it all to one person.