Sex Education: Role of Mental Health Professionals in India

Abstract

Sex education in India is a victim of competing interests. On the one hand, there exist deep societal taboos against public discussions on sexuality and on the other, a young and rapidly growing population creates unprecedented requirements for new thinking on sexual health. Placed in the interface of this conflict, mental health professionals need to carefully consider the context and aims of sex education. Here, we present an overview of the key debates surrounding the development of an appropriate curriculum for sex education, and the role of the mental health professionals in relation to other key stakeholders (e.g., educationists, parents and peers, and civil society members).