As part of the observance of Suicide Prevention Week (10th–16th September 2025), awareness sessions on mental and emotional well-being were conducted at Rajhans Vidyalaya under the initiative of CBSE. These sessions were aligned with the theme of World Suicide Prevention Day 2025 (10th September) — “Changing the Narrative on Suicide” with the call to action “Start the Conversation.” Schools were encouraged to provide safe platforms for students to talk freely about academic stress, career concerns, and other troubling matters. The initiative is part of the “Let’s Talk” campaign launched by the Directorate General of Health Services in 2023 to promote mental health and inclusivity among children and adolescents.

For Std. IX (Divisions A, B, and C), the session on “Mental and Emotional Well-Being: Rethinking Bias and Stereotypes” was conducted on 12th September 2025 at 12 noon by Ms. Poonam, the School Counselor. She began by welcoming the students and spoke about how stereotypes are often formed from misconceptions and narrow worldviews. These biases, she explained, lead to discrimination and exclusion. She emphasized that culture, language, traditions, and heritage exist in every society, shaping identities and values, and that knowledge and acceptance of these differences are essential for peace, harmony, and unity.

The counselor engaged students with examples from daily life, highlighting how biases based on language, faith, and identity impact society. She showed short videos on stereotypes and facilitated discussions to encourage students to reflect on their own thinking. She reminded them of the importance of inclusivity, empathy, and patience in understanding different perspectives. The need to create ‘safe spaces’ in school and among friends was also underlined, so that everyone feels supported and respected.

Towards the conclusion, Ms. Poonam shifted focus to the personal struggles students often face. She stressed that emotional well-being is not always visible and that challenges such as academic pressure, identity concerns, or family issues can affect adolescents deeply. She reassured students that “it is okay to not be okay” and encouraged them to speak openly, listen without judgment, and reach out to trusted individuals when in distress. She also urged students to stand by their friends in uncomfortable situations, offering help and support whenever needed.

For Std. XI and XII, a separate session was conducted by Mrs. Nayana D’Cunha (Psychologist) on 12 September, 2025 . This interactive talk focused on recognizing early warning signs of emotional distress, managing stress effectively, and seeking timely support. Students were guided on the importance of peer support, listening without judgment, and speaking up when facing challenges. The session empowered them with coping strategies and raised awareness about available resources for mental health support.

Both sessions were interactive, informative, and impactful, helping students reflect on the importance of mental and emotional well-being. They successfully conveyed the need to break stereotypes and biases, foster inclusivity, and support one another in building a safe and understanding community.