NE HEALTH BUREAU
PUNE, NOV 6
In a powerful step toward transforming youth mental health in India, the MindForward India Conclave, held in Pune on October 29, 2025, brought together some of the country’s most respected mental wellness experts and educators. The event also witnessed the launch of the “Happy Studyspaces” initiative, a first-of-its-kind program designed to provide free professional mental health support and mentoring to over 50,000 students across Pune’s colleges.
The initiative, implemented by the Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF) — part of the Apollo Hospitals Group — and supported by bp, an integrated energy company, aims to turn every campus into a space of care, connection, and confidence.
- Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation and bp launch ‘Happy Studyspaces’ initiative in Pune
- Program to offer free, professional mental health support to over 50,000 college students
- Experts call for integrated, stigma-free mental wellness systems in every educational institution
Happy Studyspaces integrates AI-powered wellness assessments, tiered care models, and campus counselling frameworks that range from resilience training to one-on-one therapy. Students can access a dedicated counselling helpline, a WhatsApp support channel, and peer-led “HappyU Clubs” that promote mindfulness and emotional well-being.
“This program isn’t just about crisis management — it’s about helping students thrive. By providing evidence-based mental health support at scale, we’re helping build emotionally strong and resilient future professionals,” said Dr. Kannan Gireesh, Psychiatrist and CEO, LiveLife Education, who headlined the conclave.
The collaboration with bp brings global best practices in workplace well-being and mental health frameworks into India’s higher education system. bp’s expertise in implementing large-scale awareness and resilience-building programs strengthens the initiative’s impact, ensuring that student mental health receives both corporate and community backing.
Dr. Jyothi Menon, Senior Vice President – People Operations and Advisory, bp, said, “Our partnership with Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation underscores bp’s long-term commitment to holistic youth development. Together, we aim to make mental wellness accessible, relatable, and stigma-free for every student.”
The conclave’s distinguished speakers included Sandeep Vohra, Tele-Mental Health Pioneer and Founder, NWNT; Dr. Poornima Gauri, Director, NICHE AdvocaDr. cy Foundation; Dr. Girija Mahale, Senior Psychiatrist and Head, Symbiosis Centre for Emotional Wellbeing; Dr. Sadhana Natu, Professor and Head, Psychology, Modern College; and Anuveet Kaur, Founder, AapkiiTherapist.
Panel discussions explored the importance of culturally relevant peer support, early detection of mental distress, and the role of educators in fostering emotionally safe campuses. Experts collectively emphasized that meaningful change begins when mental health care is integrated into the very framework of education — preparing graduates who are not only academically skilled but also emotionally resilient.
With student stress, anxiety, and employability-linked mental challenges on the rise, MindForward India and the Happy Studyspaces initiative represent a timely, collaborative, and compassionate leap forward — positioning Pune as a national model for campus mental wellness transformation.
