Kota, October 10, 2025: As the nation observes World Mental Health Day on October 10, Mpower, an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust led by Mrs. Neerja Birla, is deepening its focus on supporting the mental well-being of India’s youth. In Kota, one of India’s most competitive educational hubs, over 35,000 students have been engaged through the Mpower Foundation, which provides low-cost, quality mental health services to local students.
To strengthen student engagement and coping skills, Mpower has organised several college-based wellness activities across the city. At Government Arts College, students participated in “The Art of Letting Go” Balloon Activity, where they symbolically released their worries and took part in peer-led sessions focused on self-expression, community bonding, and emotional healing. These initiatives aim to normalise mental health conversations and empower students to seek help without stigma, building a culture of openness and care across Kota’s learning ecosystem.
Data from Mpower’s local programmes reveal a concerning pattern of academic pressure, psychosomatic symptoms, low self-esteem, time management issues, and interpersonal struggles—reflecting the emotional toll of high-performance environments on students. Since its establishment last year, the Mpower Foundation, Kota, has driven awareness workshops, counselling initiatives, and outreach activities to proactively reach students and promote early intervention.
Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson of Mpower, ABET said, “India’s youth hold immense potential, yet many struggle in silence and addressing this is a collective responsibility of us as a society. Our vision of Swasth Yuva Bharat is to nurture a generation that is resilient, mentally strong and emotionally balanced, achieved through early interventions in schools, empowering educators and strengthening peer networks and counselling support. At Mpower, we work with educational institutions on early intervention programs and promote mental health literacy in communities to create safe spaces where young people feel heard and empowered. This World Mental Health Day, it is time to move from awareness to action and make seeking help normalised.”
The situation in Kota mirrors a broader national challenge. In 2023 alone, more than two dozen student suicides were reported in the city, and concerns remain high in 2025. Academic stress, parental pressure, isolation, and limited access to timely support continue to impact young learners. Mpower’s ongoing interventions demonstrate the need for coordinated action across coaching centres, hostels, and educational institutions to embed counselling, awareness, and crisis management into the daily lives of students.
Mpower remains committed to building stigma-free, accessible, and compassionate mental health ecosystems—helping every student feel supported, resilient, and ready to thrive.
For confidential support, Mpower’s 1on1 Mental Health Helpline is available 24/7 at 1800-120-820050.
About Mpower
Mpower, an initiative of Aditya Birla Education Trust is a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to transforming India's approach to mental health. Founded 9 years ago, Mpower has emerged as a leading force in spreading awareness, reducing stigma, and delivering holistic mental health care.
With a robust team of over 200 trained professionals, Mpower impacts more than 121 million lives across seven cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Pune. Operating through five key verticals—Movement, Clinical Care, Outreach, Academia, and Mpower 1 on 1—Mpower offers a comprehensive range of services. The Movement focuses on changing cultural perceptions and alleviating stigma. Clinical Care provides world-class mental health services through the Centre, the Foundation, and the Cell, catering to various needs from holistic care to affordable support for the underprivileged. The Outreach vertical drives awareness and capacity-building through IGNITE Programs for schools, colleges, NGOs, and corporates. Academia equips individuals and professionals with skills to handle mental health crises and foster empathy. The Helpline offers 24/7 multilingual support, while special projects like Samvedana enhance mental health care in primary health centers. Mpower’s integrated approach and collaboration with government agencies underscore its commitment to creating a supportive and stigma-free mental health landscape.