Nimhans to enhance mental well-being in learning campuses

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences in Bengaluru, in partnership with the Karnataka Departments of Health and Education, is advancing an Indian Council of Medical Research initiative to boost mental well-being and lower suicide risks on educational campuses in the city.

This three-year project is part of a larger ICMR multistate study, focusing on developing evidence-based, scalable, and sustainable mental health models.

To refine the action plan and address potential challenges and facilitators, a preliminary consultative meeting is scheduled with health and education department officials, mental health experts, and NGO representatives at Arogya Soudha on June 5.

A 2021 UNICEF report indicated that about 20 per cent of young people aged 15 to 24 in 21 countries experienced feelings of depression or disinterest in activities.

The National Mental Health Survey of India 2015– 2016 found that 7.3 per cent of adolescents and 10.6 per cent of young adults in India had diagnosable mental health issues, with urban areas having double the prevalence compared to rural areas.

The primary goal is to gather expert insights to refine the action plan and discuss challenges and facilitators for implementing mental health initiatives on educational campuses.

Dr. Seema Mehrotra, Principal Investigator and Professor of Clinical Psychology at NIMHANS, highlighted that a multidisciplinary team from NIMHANS and the EHealth Research Centre at the International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore will work closely with the Karnataka government to achieve the initiative’s objectives