Chandigarh Launches Project Saathi to Address Alarming Student Mental Health Concerns
In response to escalating mental health challenges among students, the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF) has inaugurated Project Saathi, a comprehensive wellness initiative aimed at bolstering the emotional and psychological well-being of youth in government schools. The project was formally launched on Wednesday by Gulab Chand Kataria, Governor of Punjab and Administrator of Chandigarh, who described mental health issues as a silent epidemic particularly affecting children and adolescents.
Addressing a Critical National Issue
The urgency of this initiative is underscored by stark statistics. According to CCF data, an estimated 13,000 students die by suicide annually in India, accounting for 7.6% of the country's total suicide deaths. In Chandigarh specifically, eight students have died by suicide in 2024 and 2025, with the city's suicide rate at 28.7 per lakh population—more than double the national average of 12.4. These figures highlight the pressing need for targeted interventions to safeguard student mental health.
Holistic Approach to Student Wellness
Project Saathi represents a six-month pilot programme developed through extensive consultations with mental health professionals from GMCH and PGIMER, alongside government school teachers, counselors, yoga experts, and social workers. The initiative adopts a multifaceted strategy that includes:
- Sensitisation and training for teachers and school principals to better identify and support students in distress
- Skill enhancement for counselors to provide more effective mental health support
- Integration of wellness activities such as yoga, meditation, sports, life-skills education, and creative pursuits to foster a safe and emotionally secure school environment
J M Balamurugan, Additional Chief Secretary of Punjab and General Secretary of CCF, emphasized that the programme targets students in Classes VII, VIII, IX, and XI, aiming to build confidence, resilience, and healthy stress-management skills during these critical adolescent years.
Breaking Down Barriers to Mental Health Support
At the inauguration, Administrator Kataria highlighted that students today face multifaceted pressures beyond academics, including emotional neglect, family stress, bullying, excessive screen exposure, peer pressure, and academic anxiety—issues that often go unnoticed. He pointed out that social stigma, rather than a lack of facilities, remains the primary barrier to seeking mental health assistance. Kataria urged students and families to openly access professional help and expressed confidence that with collaborative efforts from the Department of School Education and CCF, Chandigarh could emerge as a model city for mental health initiatives nationwide.
Project Saathi stands as a proactive step toward creating a supportive ecosystem where students can thrive emotionally and academically, potentially serving as a replicable framework for schools across India.
