By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, May 16: A staggering 90 per cent of students across six districts in Meghalaya are grappling with high levels of anxiety and stress, according to a baseline assessment by the Mental Health Foundation that exposes the deep psychological toll of academic pressure and social media on the state’s youth.
The findings, released Saturday during a presentation of the Mind Activation Through Education (MATE) Programme, also revealed that nearly 89 per cent of the 5,000 students surveyed reported high perceived stress levels.
MATE Project lead Meeta Mishra and Dr Sanjay, general secretary of the Mental Health Foundation, warned that emotional isolation and performance anxiety are contributing to a silent crisis. They noted that these pressures are increasingly linked to student suicides and rising substance abuse across the state.
The MATE initiative, which is currently active in 40 schools, aims to provide preventive mental health interventions. Following the program’s initial phase, organisers reported that 72 per cent of participating students felt more in control of their emotions, while 87 per cent showed an improved understanding of mental health through workshops focused on emotional resilience and digital wellbeing.
The data further indicated that 85 per cent of parents and teachers believe such programmes are necessary in the long term, with 90 per cent of teachers willing to integrate wellness practices into daily school routines.
Developed by AIIMS Delhi, the MATE Programme is supported by the Government of Meghalaya and funded through the CSR initiative of Oil India Limited. The project follows a “holistic ecosystem model” involving students, families, and educators to strengthen adolescent wellbeing.
Foundation officials acknowledged the support of Oil India’s Ranjit Rath and Arun Jyoti Baruah, as well as academic guidance from Dr Nand Kumar and Dr Rajesh Sagar of AIIMS, in implementing the project across the state.
