The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is launching the CISCE Student Mental Health and Well-Being Conclave 2026. This comprehensive initiative will reach approximately 16 lakh students from Classes VI to XII, engage over 32,000 teachers, and involve more than 3,300 affiliated schools across the country.
This three-tier program aims to address mental health and well-being among students, highlighting the importance of mental wellness in education.
New Programme to Elevate Student Voices on Mental Health
A new initiative aims to enhance student involvement in shaping mental health practices within schools and at the national level. This programme seeks to establish structured pathways for students to influence recommendations on emotional well-being, resilience, and supportive environments. It is set to launch on World Mental Health Day, 10 October 2026.
Dr. Joseph Emmanuel, Chief Executive and Secretary of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), emphasized the need for a cultural shift in addressing student well-being. He stated, ‘Student well-being cannot be addressed through isolated interventions or occasional conversations. We need to create a culture in which students are heard.’
Students will participate in weekly classroom discussions on four themes: Student Stress and Academic Pressures; Emotional Well-being, Digital Life and Positive Relationships; Drugs, Substance Abuse and Healthy Choices; and Building Resilience and Help-Seeking Behaviour. These sessions will build a large repository of student perspectives while strengthening listening, empathy, and peer support in schools. Selected student representatives and teacher mentors will review school-level insights and identify participants for the national stage through a fair, merit-based process. Dr. Emmanuel emphasised that success will be measured by the changes enabled: ‘We want to listen systematically to our students and translate their lived experiences into practical recommendations, stronger school practices and a shared national framework for student well-being. The Council may institutionalise the Conclave as a biennial event.
The first tier involves School-Level Mental Health and Well-Being Dialogues from 4-31 October 2026. The second tier comprises virtual Regional Student Mental Health and Well-Being Conclaves across 18 regions from 4-14 November 2026.
