Mental health is a vital part of a student’s overall well-being, shaping how they learn, grow, and navigate life’s challenges. Students today face multiple pressures—academic demands, social adjustments, career decisions, and personal expectations—that can affect their emotional and psychological health. Experts in education, counselling, and mentorship are voicing their perspectives on this issue, emphasising the importance of support systems, awareness initiatives, and guidance to help students manage stress, build resilience, and thrive both academically and personally.
“Today’s students face mounting academic and social pressures, often carrying their emotional struggles in silence. At IIM Lucknow, we foster a culture of empathy, provide dedicated counsellors and support for students in need, and emphasise that mental well-being is foundational to learning, growth, and success. Prof. Sanjay K. Singh, Deam Programmes, IIM Lucknow.
“The mental health of a young person is linked to the environment in which they grow. In their early years, there is strong parental support and a familiar environment. Later, when they step into professional education, especially medicine, multiple changes occur in the student’s life. Simultaneously, they must live away from home, adapt to hostel life, make new friends, face senior pressures, and adjust to a vast curriculum. This phase arrives in the life of a student who is in their late teens or early twenties, an age when emotions run high, further complicating the challenge. At such a stage, the presence of a counsellor becomes invaluable, offering a safe space to work through these emotions and align priorities. Meanwhile, a mentor guides academic growth and helps the student discover personal strengths and build a solid foundation for the future. Together, mentors and counsellors help the student cope with today and build for their tomorrow”. -Dr Vaishaly Bharambe, MBBS, MD, PhD-Anatomy, Counsellor and Medical Educator.
“How awareness initiatives like World Mental Health Day can help normalize conversations around mental well-being. Mental Health is an everyday affair. There is no health without mental health. Involve families in the mental health program, not the individual alone who is suffering, sensitise all stakeholders of the institute on the challenges faced by persons with mental illness through cultural exchange programs, no screen zone, human libraries, etc.” Prof. R.K. Biswal, PIC, Institute Counseling Service, NIT Rourkela.
Students in schools and colleges in Nagaland face a unique challenge in addressing mental health issues due to challenges and problems with access to mental health care and the stigma towards mental illness, which is predominantly due to a lack of awareness in rural areas.- Dr. Lovika P Shikhu, Department of Psychology, Nagaland University.
“Having come from a modest background myself, I understand the mental challenges many students face. There’s always this uncertainty “Will my passion really put food on the table?” For those who want to pursue creative fields like tattooing, which isn’t seen as a mainstream career in India, the pressure is even greater. They’re often torn between family expectations, financial struggles, and their own dreams. On top of that, the constant comparisons with peers only add to the stress. What really helps is mentorship, because hearing from someone who’s been through the same struggle makes them feel less alone. We need to normalise alternative career choices, create support systems, and most importantly, encourage students to believe in their journey even if it looks different from the conventional path”. Lokesh Verma, Founder, Devil’z Tattooz.
