Provide Students with Access to Mental Health Support
MAHE is committed to creating a supportive, emotionally healthy campus environment that prioritizes the mental and emotional well-being of every student. Through innovative programmes, structured counselling services, wellness courses, and awareness events across its campuses—including Manipal, Bengaluru, and Dubai—MAHE ensures that students have free, inclusive, and stigma-free access to mental health support. The following initiatives highlight MAHE’s institution-wide dedication to promoting good mental health in alignment with SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being.
1. “Manam” – MAHE Bengaluru’s Flagship Mental & Emotional Well-being Programme
MAHE Bengaluru launched Manam, a pioneering and first-of-its-kind programme designed to enhance students’ emotional intelligence and promote mental and emotional wellness.
Key Features of Manam:
- Access to professional counsellors for confidential, student-centred mental health support.
- Peer support groups to strengthen student networks and reduce social isolation.
- A dedicated website (manam.manipal.edu) offering self-help tools, reflection-based modules, and an experiential emotional well-being course.
- Expert-led sessions on mindfulness, sexual wellness, movement therapy, and nervous system regulation.
Manam seeks to normalise discussions surrounding emotional challenges and break the stigma associated with seeking help. Developed through extensive student input, it fosters self-awareness, resilience, and proactive mental health management.
2. “Manam” Programme at MAHE Manipal
MAHE Manipal also implements Manam as part of its broader mental health ecosystem.
Key Components:
- Normalizing open dialogue about emotional well-being.
- Experiential learning through self-awareness–based modules.
- Peer support networks and campus counsellor access.
- Integration of mindfulness, resilience, and psychoeducation-based sessions.
This multi-dimensional approach ensures students receive consistent and accessible mental health support across the academic year.
3. Mental Health Support at MAHE Dubai – The Wellness Hub
The MAHE Dubai Wellness Hub was created to promote comprehensive student and staff well-being across physical, emotional, social, and professional domains.
Major Initiatives:
- On-campus counselling services by in-house counsellors.
- Engagement of two visiting counsellors trained in mental health first aid and wellness coaching.
- Individual counselling sessions for both students and staff.
- Wellness-focused awareness programmes and community outreach events.
Impact:
These efforts improved emotional resilience, encouraged healthier lifestyle practices, and built a strong sense of community support.
Public evidence: https://share.google/HISUE10HGwjBzhwiL
4. Interactive Session: “Covid-19 – Promoting Mental Health through Curiosity, Creativity & Compassion” (13 February 2024)
PSPH, MAHE organised an engaging session focused on:
Course Structure:
- The global rise of mental health issues post-pandemic.
- Emotional challenges faced by young adults.
- The role of empathy, compassion, and community support in improving mental health.
Students from the MSW programme participated in meditation-based exercises that promoted relaxation, emotional grounding, and positive coping strategies. The session highlighted a holistic, compassionate approach to mental health management.Students from the MSW programme participated in meditation-based exercises that promoted relaxation, emotional grounding, and positive coping strategies. The session highlighted a holistic, compassionate approach to mental health management.
5. “Wall of Positivity” – World Mental Health Day Initiative (10–19 October 2024)
Public Evidence: https://www.manipal.edu/psph/news-events/Wall-of-Positivity-on-the-occasion-of-World-Mental-Health-Day-october-10-to-19-2024.html
The Department of Global Public Health Policy & Governance (GPHPG), in collaboration with the Department of Student Affairs, organised a campus-wide mental health awareness initiative aligned with the theme:
“It’s Time to Prioritize Mental Health in the Workplace.”
Students were encouraged to express supportive, uplifting messages on the “Wall of Positivity,” promoting collective healing, community engagement, and positive mental health culture.
6. Certificate Course: “Meditation and Conscious Living” (19 August – 30 September 2024)
Organised by the Manipal Health Literacy Unit (MHLU), PSPH, in association with the Darshan Education Foundation, this certificate course combined theory, practice, and community immersion.
Course Structure:
- Daily one-hour sessions (17:15–18:15 IST).
- Guided meditation practices.
- Group discussions on mindful living, stress reduction, and emotional balance.
- Field activities conducted with VSO (Volunteer Services Organization):
- Beach clean-ups
- Sustainable living practices
- Provides compassionate care, including onco-fertility services.
- Community support work
Objectives:
- Support students in developing daily meditation habits.
- Encourage work-life balance and stress-free academic routines.
- Strengthen self-discipline, compassion, and social responsibility.
Impact: Participants reported improved focus, emotional clarity, and a deeper understanding of how meditation benefits physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
Through path-breaking programmes like Manam, structured counselling services across campuses, and continuous engagement via workshops, wellness hubs, meditation courses, and student-led initiatives, MAHE demonstrates an unwavering commitment to promoting student mental health. These initiatives collectively provide students with free, accessible, and proactive mental health support, fulfilling the requirements of SDG 3.3.5 and reinforcing MAHE’s dedication to nurturing resilient, well-rounded learners across all its campuses.