Realizing a shared vision for youth mental health in India

Stakeholder-Led Advancement of Mental Health of Young People (SAMYP) is a landmark project that has synthesized the national landscape of the youth mental health ecosystem in India. The project aims to address the mental health needs of young people aged 15-24 years.

Led by PATH, with support from Fondation Botnar, SAMYP analyzed multisectoral policies and programs, held stakeholder consultations, and convened the Technical Advisory Group and Youth Advisory Group comprised of young people with lived experience of mental health conditions.

SAMYP has highlighted that India’s existing programmatic landscape is yet to realize its full potential to advance youth mental health. It has also emphasized the need for sustainable access to accurate mental health information, resources, and basic mental health care.

PATH has developed and disseminated high quality, reliable, and ready-reference knowledge products, such as the below landscape report, technical briefs, white paper series, and stories to promote mental health literacy and make it a national priority.

Corporate author(s): PATH

Publication date: January 2023

Available materials

  1. English

    1. Spotlight: SAMYP landscaping report 2.5 MB PDF

      PATH, with the support from Fondation Botnar, undertook a thorough process of scoping youth mental health needs, priorities, and preferences, and mapping the stakeholders, policies, programs, legislations, and digital mental health initiatives across public and private sectors. This landscaping report is based on multiple methods including desk review, document analysis, consultations with stakeholders including young people, their parents, teachers, and service providers. The following groups provided inputs into this report: a Technical Advisory Group comprised of multi-disciplinary experts in youth mental health and adolescent health; young people engaged through workshops; and a Youth Advisory Group comprised of young people with a passion for working to improve youth mental health outcomes. The findings will add value to the existing body of knowledge and offer key recommendations to improve the promotion of youth mental health in India based on emerging programmatic priorities of governments and stakeholders.
    2. Breaking the barriers 6.9 MB PDF

      This white paper series, developed by ETI and PATH, seeks to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the centrality of mental health. "Breaking the Barriers: Pathways to addressing mental health and long-COVID impact in India" was authored by Dr. Vikram Patel, Founder Sangath & Pershing Square Professor, Global Health, Department of Global Health and Medicine, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health; Dr. Virander Singh Chauhan, Emeritus Professor and Founder, ETI; Mr. Neeraj Jain, Country Director- India & Director- South Asia, PATH; Dr. Madhura Swaminathan, Chairperson, M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation; Ms. Susan Ferguson, Country Representative - India; Ms. Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director, Population Foundation of India; Dr. Hindol Sengupta, Vice President, Invest India; Ms. Guriya, Assistant Manager, Invest India, DRISHTI Desk; Mr. Siddhartha Jha, AI/Digital Program Manager, Fondation Botnar and; Dr. Ulla Jasper, Policy Officer, Fondation Botnar.
    3. India's policy and programmatic response to mental health of young people: A narrative review 496.1 KB PDF

      A comprehensive narrative review of policies, programs, and legislation across five ministries of the Government of India—Health and Family Welfare, Education, Women and Child Development, Youth Affairs and Sports, and Social Justice and Empowerment—over the last 10 years to map their approach and identify enablers and barriers for promoting youth mental health in India.
    4. Educational institutions: A vital cog in youth mental health 1.3 MB PDF

      Technical brief highlighting the importance of school's role in promoting mental wellness by creating bullying, ragging, and substance free zone; initiating conversations on mental health; maintaining a wellness centre with a skilled counsellor; and conducting a reexamination to manage stress of failure.
    5. Role of families in youth mental health 183.5 KB PDF

      Technical brief highlighting the importance of family environment and dynamics in the healthy development of youth and their mental health. Families should aim to create safe spaces for youth, help them learn for mistakes, develop healthy habits, and observe changes in their children.
    6. Mental health: How can the youth help themselves? 227.5 KB PDF

      Technical brief that suggests young people open up about mental health, incorporate self care as lifestyle practice, and understand and approach professional help options.

  2. English

    1. Let’s talk about youth mental well-being (English)

      A collection of short stories in English developed by young people, experts and technical advisors and guided by suggestions from youth. These stories cover adolescents' most common mental health interests and concerns in a simple way to promote mental health literacy, awareness, self-care, and help-seeking among young people.
    2. तरुणांच्या मानसिक आरोग्यावर बोलू काही...! (Marathi)

      A collection of short stories in Marathi developed by young people, experts and technical advisors and guided by suggestions from youth. These stories cover adolescents' most common mental health interests and concerns in a simple way to promote mental health literacy, awareness, self-care, and help-seeking among young people.
    3. Exam stress and self-care

      A short video on tips to tackle stress with simple self-care techniques essential for healthy body and mind.
    4. Understand, recognize and help your children

      A short video on helping the parents and teachers of young people to identify and understand mental health concerns and help their children connect to the right professional help when the need arises.
    5. Promote help-seeking for mental health

      A short video that attempts to break the stigma around mental health conditions and encourage viewers to seek professional help when the need arises.