Strengthening student mental health support: NIMHANS hosts consultative meeting

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) hosted a consultative meeting as part of an ICMR-funded multi-state implementation research project aimed at developing a comprehensive campusbased model to reduce suicide risks and strengthen mental health support through sensitisation and training of key stakeholders, including teachers and campus leaders.

A key aspect of this model is youth engagement, where students play an active role in initiating conversations on mental health, reducing stigma around seeking help, and supporting their peers in distress. The initiative also includes teacher training to help them identify students in distress, provide firstline support, mobilise additional assistance, and facilitate necessary referrals. Additionally, self-help resources will be made available in both online and offline formats for students.

Dr. Pratima Murthy, Director of NIMHANS, emphasised the increasing challenges faced by youth today and highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts, crosscampus learning, and a strengths-based approach to enhance mental health support. The meeting saw 125 educational administrators representing 90 schools, pre-university, and college campuses across disciplines .