Mental health is an essential component of overall well-being and a critical determinant of productivity, educational attainment, and social participation. Among young people—particularly students—the burden of mental health disorders has become a silent but escalating crisis. Across the globe, adolescents and youth aged 15 to 29 are facing growing rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, emotional dysregulation, and psychosocial dysfunction. The World Health Organization (2021) estimates that one in seven adolescents globally suffers from a mental disorder, and suicide has become the fourth leading cause of death among 15–29-year-olds.

In India, where over 250 million individuals are under 30 years of age, student mental health presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The National Crime Records Bureau (2023) reports more than 13,000 student suicides annually, and epidemiological studies indicate that over 20% of college students experience significant psychological distress. Yet, more than 80% of these youth never receive professional help, largely due to stigma, lack of access, unawareness, or institutional inaction.

India’s higher education ecosystem—spanning over 1,000 universities and 45,000 colleges—lacks a structured, scientifically informed, and technology-enabled mental health system. Most interventions are reactive, fragmented, or inaccessible to those who need them most. There is a pressing need for a comprehensive, preventive, and youth-centric mental health framework that integrates education, early screening, self-help, clinical care, and research in a unified model.

To address this critical gap, the Mansik shakti Mental Health Program (Mental health Upscaling and Management of Barriers in Access and Intervention) was conceptualized and developed. The program is designed as an evidence-based, digital-first, public mental health intervention specifically tailored for students and young people. It brings together validated psychometric tools, a technology platform with AI-powered triage, a consent-driven EMR system, access to mental health professionals, crisis response, and self-development modules in one integrated ecosystem.

Uniquely aligned with India’s Digital India mission, National Mental Health Program, Tele-MANAS, Ayushman Bharat, and the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the Program also supports the objectives of NEP 2020 by enhancing emotional resilience and well-being in education settings. It also reflects global best practices in public health psychiatry by prioritizing early detection, stigma reduction, and community-informed digital solutions.

This introduction sets the stage for a detailed discussion of the program’s model, methodology, implementation, and future potential to transform student mental health in India and beyond.