Australia is funding teacher training in Gilgit-Baltistan that focuses on children’s emotional wellbeing and teachers’ own mental health, reinforcing the importance of mental health awareness in remote and rural schools. The initiative aims to create safer, happier classrooms by equipping educators with practical skills to support students and themselves. Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner to Pakistan, Nicole Guihot, recently visited the region and met with women educators leading these efforts.
The learning programs supported by Australia provide teachers with guidance and tools to recognize and respond to children’s emotional needs, manage classroom stressors, and build nurturing learning environments. By including components that address teachers’ own wellbeing, the trainings acknowledge that educators’ mental health is integral to students’ safety and learning outcomes.
Observing R U OK Day highlighted the broader importance of mental health awareness across diverse contexts — not only in urban centers but also in remote and rural schools where access to support services can be limited. The campaign underscored how small, consistent interventions by trained teachers can make a meaningful difference in children’s daily school experiences.
During her visit, Deputy High Commissioner Nicole Guihot met with several women educators who are implementing these approaches in their classrooms. Their leadership is helping to create more positive school environments, giving students safer, more supportive spaces to learn and thrive.
