First responders
Many a time, it is the peers who are in the best place to spot early signs of mental distress. That is a reason why the Department of Social Work (Mental Health) at Madras School of Social Work in Egmore trains its second year students to offer peer support in mental health.
Although the programme is offered to all, not all students sign up to become a first responder, the diffidence stemming from the fact that being a first responder requires niche skills.
J. Damen Queen, associate professor, Department of Social Work - Mental Health, says this is a sustainable support service within the system that addresses three As - accessibility, affordability and availability. For students, this is an opportunity to offer care and support while they are still studying, boosting their confidence, knowledge and practical skills to recognise and respond to early signs of mental distress.
The faculty says that they are next working on a pilot programme where they want to reach out to 20 colleges in Chennai to train them as trainers and thus create mental health ambassadors in these institutions.
The gratitude wall
Research says that practising gratitude can reduce stress, improve mood, and strengthen relationships. So once in every two or three months, Gratitude Walls are sure to be spotted on the campus of CTTE College for Women in Perambur. They come in all shapes, sometimes taking the form of a tree with branches, many a time on a specially designed notice board and placed at strategic locations so that a good number of students can take part in this mindfulness activity.
At CTTE College, the Gratitude Wall is a space to celebrate life’s little and big things one is thankful for.
Some are guided on the objective behind the wall — a space to celebrate life’s little and big things one is thankful for.
Alima Zahra, head, Department of Psychology, says the gratitude wall actually does bring in a measurable difference in a short time. “It is easy to execute and is a space to reflect. We have some faculty who have started doing this activity with their students,” says the HOD. She adds that one therapeutic event involving music, sand, movement are among activities they conduct to address mental health issues. The college also has a mental health and wellness club.
Teenagers break the stigma
This year-long volunteer peer support initiative at Chettinad Vidyashram empowers students across classes to speak up, reach out for help, tackle stigma and inspire change. Led by psychology students of Class XII, the “Young Helper Project” was started in 2024.
In Class XI, they are given a primer on mental health and the next year, they start taking mass sessions for students across classes I to XI, spread across the academic year, at least one a month and on a range of topics such as bullying, peer pressure and self-esteem.
What makes these sessions engaging are they are sometimes play-based or involves seniors sharing their respective journeys.
Sometimes a class XII student is sent to engage with a child through a drawing activity and in the process make him/her open up about certain topics disturbing him.
G. Parvathi, head of department, Psychology, says when teachers don an additional role as counsellor there is some hesitation from children to open up or reach out for help. “Young Helper Project was started to bridge that gap. Besides giving students an opportunity to be a trainer, the sessions nudge children to reach out to the counselling department in case of pressing issues bothering them and never hesitate to ask for help,” says Parvathi.
Nature as therapist
Two nature-based outdoor activities at Women’s Christian College on College Road in Chennai are linked to positive mental health outcomes such as improved focus, lower stress and better mood. Community gardening has been in the curriculum at this sprawling green campus for some years and what makes it special is the flexibility quotient that it offers students. The Centre for Environment Studies at the College invites students across disciplines to sign up, allowing them to choose a plot and work on growing vegetables and greens. Seeds and tools for gardening and the necessary guidance are offered.
There are no timelines given or number of hours they have to clock; students choose to work as and when they wish, but they are encouraged to come as a group. A student with a bad day might choose to spend more time at her green patch.
C . Anupama, Dean, Centre for Environmental Studies, WCC, says they have 25 students across departments who have enrolled for this in this academic year and updates on progress of veggies are shared on a WhatsApp group to motivate them.
The Centre also initiated Forest Bathing, a walk on the campus where they encourage participants to slow down, breath deeply and engage their senses while spending time with trees.
Both activities are therapeutic, and in Forest Bathing the strategy changes depending on the group. If there are literature students then they write poetry or if it is an mixed group they hug trees, says Anupama.