World Mental Health Day: Nurturing Wellbeing as a Life Skill

At the Nourishing Schools Foundation, our work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: wellbeing is fundamental to learning and growth. As we mark World Mental Health Day this October, we are reminded that true wellbeing goes beyond physical health parameters. Emotional and mental wellness are just as essential, especially for children navigating today’s complex world.

To reflect on this year’s theme and its relevance to school communities, we spoke to Ms. Priti Srivastava, a seasoned public affairs professional and passionate wellness advocate. With over three decades of experience spanning policy, advocacy, and mentorship, Priti currently serves as Mentor, Advocacy at Reliance Industries Ltd and is the Founder of DayaRani Wellness, a think tank advancing preventive emotional health. Her career reflects a deep commitment to mentoring youth, strengthening public-private partnerships, and promoting mental health as a lifelong practice.

We asked Priti a few questions about why emotional wellbeing matters, especially in schools, and what more can be done. She shared:

“As a mentor, I work with many young people. I see them confused, stressed, and anxious. They need someone to guide them. I want to be that person.”

This insight echoes what we see in the classrooms we work with. Children today are dealing with rising academic pressure, family and community challenges, and limited access to safe spaces for emotional expression. As Priti notes, we often focus on physical growth, but emotional growth needs just as much attention. Schools must provide counselling, as well as regular mentoring and practical tools to help children build resilience.

“Mental health isn’t just crisis counselling. It’s a life skill and like any skill, it needs consistent coaching and practice. As we grow physically, we grow emotionally too. And a balance between both is important. But no one teaches us about holistic health. There should be regular mentorship for assessing emotional wellbeing.”

Priti shared how we can embed mental health into everyday life. Activities like playing sports or planting trees can build confidence, reduce stress, and help children feel connected. These small, consistent actions build a foundation for long-term emotional wellbeing.

She also highlighted how the corporate sector can support this work:

“Corporate India can sponsor mentorship programmes in schools. I’ve facilitated such partnerships where companies fund coaching sessions, events, and even tools like stress-assessment apps or counselling support.”

This approach aligns closely with our own. At the Nourishing Schools Foundation, our toolkit-based programme integrates nutrition, hygiene, and wellbeing education into everyday classroom activities. Children play games that build confidence and develop leadership qualities, set up school gardens that encourage sustainability, and explore the links between what they eat and how they feel. These practices support the National Education Policy’s (NEP 2020) vision of holistic learning and align with the life skills approach it recommends.

Over the years, we’ve seen the impact of this approach: reduced absenteeism, improved classroom participation, and stronger connections between schools and families. Mental health is not a standalone module; it’s woven into every aspect of how a child engages with school, food, community, and themselves.

We’re grateful to Priti Srivastava for sharing her perspective and for her tireless commitment to wellness and youth development. As she reminded us, it’s okay not to be okay. What matters is that we create systems, both in schools and society, that teach children how to understand and respond to their emotions, support each other, and thrive.

This World Mental Health Day, let’s reaffirm our commitment to making wellbeing a part of everyday learning, at home, in schools, and in communities.