Kota, a city in Rajasthan in India, home to over a hundred institutes offering training in various competitive exams, experiences a heavy influx of students from across the country every year. However, along with being a cradle of academic ambition and excellence, it has also witnessed a disturbing rise in mental health issues, especially among students. Exam pressure, the fear of failure, and the burden of societal expectations make stress, anxiety, and depression alarmingly common. While many state government policies encourage educational institutions to implement mental health support systems for students, they are often hindered due to a collective lack of infrastructure, affordability and specialised expertise.
The figures are staggering. A survey of 2,072 students between the ages of 18 and 26, conducted by Mpower, revealed that 69% experience stress frequently, 56.5% have depressive symptoms, 64% struggle with low confidence, and 73.1% often have feelings of low self-worth. What’s more worrying is that less than 10% of them seek professional help due to stigma, cultural beliefs, and lack of awareness.
It's in the light of these findings that, in October 2024, Mpower established a foundation in Kota. The aim was to provide structured and stigma-free mental health interventions in the city, along with raising awareness and encouraging people to seek help. What began as a rally to spread awareness has since evolved into a mass movement, bringing together all stakeholders, including students, parents, institutions, and even the general public.
Mpower Foundation's entry into Kota marks a pivotal milestone in its broader vision: To make affordable, multidisciplinary mental health services accessible to even the most vulnerable sections of society.
The foundation has adopted a multipronged approach. It has established a dedicated centre, which offers mental health services starting at just ₹100 ($1.16). Our team includes Rehabilitation Council of India-registered clinical psychologists, who strive to ensure that no student is left without help. Furthermore, efforts are underway to align hostels, health NGOs, universities, and training institutes with our endeavour.
Recognising the significance of peer-driven mental health awareness, we have also introduced COPE Clubs, where student members receive Mental Health First Aider training. The purpose is to enable them to recognise early signs of mental distress among peers, offer support, and foster stigma-free conversations.
All mental health interventions need to be comprehensive. With this in view, there's continuous engagement with the local elderly population and children of defence personnel posted in the area.
Slowly but steadily, we have been witnessing encouraging signs. Since its inception, the foundation has helped more than 5,000 people across various sections of society, while our key focus area remains students. As we move forward, the immediate goal is to extend Mpower’s online counselling services across Rajasthan.
Mpower Foundation is a result of the realisation that our student community urgently needs adequate resources to cope with their hurdles. Along with academic pressure and the burnout caused by extended periods of studying, many also suffer from emotional isolation and loneliness when they move away from home to pursue education. Left unaddressed, these issues could have a long-term impact on their mental well-being.
The youth of a country being crippled by challenges could have a profound impact on its future. Every initiative by Mpower aims to shape a transformation in India's mental health landscape. We may be taking one small step at a time, but each one is unwavering and unrelenting.