Wed Feb 26 02:30:00 UTC 2025: ## NIMHANS Hosts Meeting to Tackle Student Mental Health Crisis
**Bengaluru, February 26, 2025** – The National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (NIMHANS) convened a crucial meeting on Tuesday to address the growing mental health concerns among students in Karnataka. The meeting, part of a larger nationwide ICMR-led project, brought together approximately 125 administrative heads from 90 educational institutions across the state, representing diverse disciplines from primary schools to higher education.
The focus was on developing a comprehensive, campus-based model for suicide risk reduction and improved mental health support. The initiative emphasizes youth participation as agents of change, promoting open conversations about mental health, destigmatizing help-seeking, and fostering peer support.
The meeting included training for teachers on early identification of students in distress, providing first-line support, and appropriate referrals. Participants also discussed disseminating self-help resources in various formats.
NIMHANS Director Dr. Pratima Murthy highlighted the unique pressures faced by today’s youth and stressed the need for collaborative efforts and a strengths-based approach. Dr. Seema Mehrotra, lead investigator of the NIMHANS project, emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative, involving experts from various departments within NIMHANS and officials from the State Departments of Education and Health.
Moderated group discussions explored barriers and potential solutions to create a scalable and sustainable model for improving student mental well-being across Karnataka. The project aims to create a lasting impact on the mental health landscape of educational institutions in the state.
First Piper 