The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) is set to launch a sweeping national initiative focused on adolescent mental health and emotional well-being. Spanning over 3,300 affiliated schools, the programme will engage approximately 16 lakh students from Classes VI to XII alongside 32,000 teachers.
Titled the CISCE Student Mental Health and Well-Being Conclave 2026, the structured programme will unfold in three distinct stages, beginning in October to coincide with World Mental Health Day.
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The first stage, termed School-Level Mental Health and Well-Being Dialogues, will run from October 4 to 31. During this period, students will participate in weekly classroom discussions centered on four critical areas: academic stress, emotional well-being and digital life, substance abuse prevention, and resilience-building. These sessions are designed to capture student feedback and help schools strengthen peer support networks and listening mechanisms.
Following the classroom dialogues, the second stage will involve regional virtual conclaves across 18 administrative zones between November 4 and 14. Selected student representatives and teacher mentors will review school-level findings and prepare recommendations for the final phase.
The initiative will culminate in a national conclave hosted at the CISCE Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad from November 20 to 22. Bringing together student delegates, teacher mentors, and mental health experts, the summit will draft a formal CISCE Student Mental Health Charter. This document will establish guiding principles, rights, and recommendations to foster emotionally safe educational environments. Furthermore, the council plans to compile a Student Well-being Index and a White Paper on emerging adolescent mental health challenges, potentially establishing the conclave as a biennial event.
