Category: Mental Health

Growing emotional distress among school and college students is emerging as a significant concern, with counsellors at Ātmaprasāra observing a steady rise in the number of young people seeking help for anxiety, addiction, family conflicts, loneliness, and academic pressure. The counselors have been addressing these issues through emotional support, counselling, and behavioural guidance aimed at helping students regain confidence and emotional well-being.

According to the organisation, nearly 40 per cent of the individuals who have benefitted from its counselling and support services over the years are students and youngsters below the age of 20. In total, close to 1,000 individuals have received emotional guidance and mental health support through the initiative in the past five years.

Counsellors say many students today are silently struggling with issues that often remain unnoticed by families and educational institutions. Among the most common concerns reported are mobile phone and social media addiction, drug dependency, harmful peer influence, loneliness, fear, anxiety, and lack of confidence in classrooms.

Another growing issue identified by the counsellors is the emotional stress experienced by students who are pushed into academic streams or career choices that do not align with their interests or abilities. Many hesitate to openly discuss their aspirations with parents due to fear of disappointing them, leading to frustration, emotional withdrawal, poor academic performance, and declining self-confidence.

To support affected students, Atmaprasara provides one-on-one counselling, emotional guidance, behavioural support, and, wherever possible, family counselling sessions aimed at improving communication and understanding within households.