Medical scientist and educationist Dr B M Hegde has said that the purpose of education is to make individuals more humane and compassionate and not produce intellectuals who work for money.

Addressing a gathering of principals at a seminar organised by DHiE in association with Addresshealth here on Monday, Dr Hegde said that the aim of education was to help cultivate a healthy mind. “A healthy mind is not defined by physical health but by a mind that is filled with the enthusiasm to work," he said.

He said compassion and love are at the core of everything. “Without compassion there is no meaning. If we integrate compassion into everything, we will not only become more healthier human beings but will also create a healthier world.”

Anna Chandy, a transactional analyst and counsellor, made a presentation on ‘Agents of Change Are Better Together - Normalising Mental Illness.’ She said that one out of every five persons suffers from depression. Depression is not just a feeling but a mental illness. She stressed the need for coordination among the child, parent, teachers, counsellor and the community to help the child in recovering from depression.

Anna said that children between the age of 11 and 15 were extremely prone to depression.