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Realizing a shared vision for youth mental health in India

PATH’s mental health program highlights the successful integration of mental health services into primary health care systems. It utilizes a multifaceted approach that focuses on literacy, policy, capacity building of primary care providers, and community empowerment.

We are transforming mental health care outcomes for young people in India through innovative, scalable, and system-integrated approaches. PATH, together with the Health Department of the Government of Karnataka and with support from the Indira Foundation, is introducing a flagship initiative, ASPIRE (Advancing Stakeholder-led Program for Improving Young People’s Access to Mental Health Resources and Responsiveness of the Ecosystem), designed for youth aged 15–24 years in Chikkaballapur district, Karnataka.

We build mental health literacy and self-care skills using youth-led storybooks in multiple languages (English, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi), peer education models, and Manopath, an interactive WhatsApp chatbot. ASPIRE envisions enhancing the public health system’s capacity to screen, counsel, and refer youth to services such as Tele MANAS and the District Mental Health Program, while fostering cross-sectoral collaboration for sustainable impact.

Previously, PATH led a national pilot to integrate mental health services into primary health care across 1,081 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in 10 states. In partnership with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, state National Health Missions, and the Gates Foundation, we trained 9,277 frontline workers and developed a robust technical mental health literacy resource package.

Between September 2024 and May 2025, over 2.1 lakh individuals were pre-screened by ASHA workers, over 66,000 people were screened, and over 15,000 people were counseled by Community Health Officers to deliver inclusive, large-scale mental health programs.

Earlier, with Fondation Botnar, PATH conducted the SAMYP (Stakeholder-Led Advancement of Mental Health of Young People) project, a comprehensive landscape analysis of youth mental health policies and programs. The findings emphasized the need for sustainable access to accurate mental health information, resources, and basic mental health care services.

PATH has developed and disseminated high-quality, reliable, and ready-reference knowledge products—including landscape reports, technical briefs, white paper series, and real-life stories—to promote mental health literacy and make it a national priority.

Corporate author(s): PATH

Publication date: October 2025

Available materials

  1. English

    1. Mind Matters: A guide to self-care (English) 3 MB PDF
    2. Mind Matters: A guide to self-care (Kannada) 3.1 MB PDF
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.
    7. 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.
    8. 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)
    3. Let’s talk about youth mental well-being (Kannada)
    4. Exam stress and self-care

      A short video on tips to tackle stress with simple self-care techniques essential for healthy body and mind.
    5. 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.
    6. 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.