For far too long, schools have treated mental health as an afterthought — something to be spoken about only in moments of crisis. That must change. If India is serious about nurturing resilient, emotionally aware citizens, mental health must become a primary subject in the school curriculum — taught, discussed, and understood with the same seriousness as mathematics or science.
Children today grow up in a world far more complex than that of their parents. Social media pressures, academic competition, changing family structures, and early exposure to distressing information create emotional burdens that most young minds are unequipped to handle. Yet, schools continue to measure success only through marks and ranks, leaving little room to talk about fear, anxiety, or loneliness.
Introducing mental health as a core subject — not as an optional counselling session or a one-day workshop — would equip students with essential life tools: self-awareness, empathy, stress management, and emotional literacy. Such education could teach children how to recognise early signs of distress, seek help without stigma, and support peers in need.
Teachers, too, must be trained to handle emotional conversations sensitively and identify warning signs among students. A dedicated curriculum designed by mental health professionals could integrate age-appropriate discussions, mindfulness exercises, and basic coping strategies into everyday learning.
Normalising these lessons from an early age will not only reduce stigma but also build a generation that values mental well-being as deeply as physical fitness. The pandemic showed how fragile human endurance can be. It also showed that empathy, connection, and awareness can save lives.
The time has come for policymakers to act — not with token campaigns, but with structural reform. Mental health must move from the margins of the classroom to the very centre of education. Because a mind that is understood, cared for, and supported is a mind that can truly learn.
