At the heart of India’s youth lies an increasingly prevalent mental health and well-being issue. The challenges that confront 21st century societies are existential. The learning systems in our schools, particularly those catering to the underprivileged, are not nurturing students to find their highest potential.

School going young adults face stress, anxiety, and depression due to academic pressures, financial concerns and social challenges. In our country, the young face intense pressure due to societal expectations and a competitive environment.

As a society, we love ratings, marks, grades, percentages, and measurements. We quantify and qualify everyone and everything.

Guarantees and warranties of products obsess us. Why do we do this? Perhaps because we believe that we must get the product that we deserve.

Parental expectations, financial struggles, and family responsibility often lead to self-doubt and emotional breakdown.

For preparing the young for a world that has become brittle, anxious, non-linear, and incomprehensible, the tool of self-discovery through education will help in developing emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and resilience.

Students are surrounded by a high-pressure culture that is a national problem. There is no student voice or advocacy, leading to deep stress and isolation.

A journey of self-exploration will help young adults with issues of stress disorder, low self-esteem, and anxiety. It will empower them with tools and techniques to improve their energy levels, focus, and concentration, as well as develop listening skills and effective communication.

The young are not able to cope, relax, and reflect. They are often not even aware if they have a self to find.

Teens and tweens who are in the age group of 13 and 17 are in need of more developmental motivation. Hence, it is essential that they do not feel isolated.

The years of puberty affected by hormonal changes and shifting adolescent dynamics makes them highly conscious of social positioning and peer groups.

Caught in this vacuum when they are in a stage in life for self-discovery, they find themselves in a labyrinth of complex emotions.

As mental health issues start as early as 14, early intervention is crucial. By acting quick and early, it will be possible to reduce its worsening effects on their life and well-being.

Approximately 10% and 14% of boys and girls respectively have reported that they feel ‘low’ or ‘down’ more than once a week, with an increased rate of incidence as they reach high school.

Nowadays, usage of social media and internet have become an essential part of the lives of children and young adults alike.

Though technology has helped in the scalability of learning, it has widened the gap between the privileged and unprivileged groups. Inadequacy develops as a result of the divide between reality and aspirations. Without emotional guidance and support, poorer children feel less capable of deserving success.

This unprecedented and often unrestricted reliance on digital technology has been a cause for concern for parents, teachers, governments and young people themselves. Their usage is creating complex feelings of anxiety, depression, mood swings and disrupted sleep cycles, from cyberbullying and sometimes body shaming.

Though this is a relatively recent phenomenon, there is a connection between internet usage and mental well-being, which often leads to negativity, restlessness, and anxiety among the young, both privileged and underprivileged.

When young people understand themselves, recognize their strengths and weaknesses, and develop coping mechanisms, they are better equipped to handle stress and uncertainty.

Particularly for the young adults from marginalized communities, it is a battle between survival and self-discovery. They are often involved in the earn and learn program, whereby there is little space left for reflection or personal exploration. Unlike their privileged peers, they do not have access to resources, counseling, or mentorship. In fact, their entire existence is not connected with the internal but with the external world.

The challenge of stigma towards mental health among the underprivileged prevents supportive systems. Many teenagers grow up believing that hardship is a result of their circumstances and destiny.

The schools which they attend primarily focus on academic achievement without providing any safe spaces for social emotional learning. As a result, there is an immense rise in depression, resulting in suicide in some cases.

It is important that spiritual and emotional tools are created to navigate the challenges and help in creating holistic individuals. Various methods of group discussions, meditative practices, games and activities, and breathing techniques can be used in raising self-esteem, enhancing positive qualities, and developing intuitive faculties, which will help students to regulate their emotions.

Developing buddy systems and peer support groups is essential for dispelling isolation and strengthening coping mechanisms.

Integrating self-discovery into the curriculum in India will help in cultivating an entire generation of resilient and self-aware individuals. These proactive steps will ensure that students are just not connected with classroom subject but also with their inner journeys.

Mental health is no more a privilege but a necessity where every child is given the opportunity not only to survive but to flourish.