Chandigarh Launches Project SAATHI to Embed Mental Health and Well-Being in School Education

Project SAATHI, a new mental health and wellness initiative, has been launched across schools in Chandigarh through a collaboration between the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF) and the Union Territory’s School Education Department. The programme marks a formal recognition of student well-being as a core educational concern, rather than a peripheral one, at a time when emotional distress among schoolchildren is increasingly visible.

Designed as a multi-layered intervention, Project SAATHI focuses on integrating yoga and meditation into the school routine while also introducing structured life skills education. These components are aimed at helping students manage academic pressure, build emotional resilience and develop healthier responses to stress. The initiative also seeks to create safer school environments by addressing issues such as bullying and social anxiety, which often go unacknowledged in formal curricula.

A key pillar of the programme is the training of teachers and counsellors, enabling schools to identify early signs of emotional distress and respond more effectively. Rather than relying solely on external experts, SAATHI emphasises capacity-building within the school system itself.

While the launch signals intent, its success will depend on sustained implementation and institutional commitment. Without long-term support, mental health interventions risk remaining episodic responses to a structural challenge facing India’s classrooms.