Hyderabad, Nov. 1: The Rotary Club of Hyderabad Mavericks has concluded its year-long PEP-UP Mental Well-being Project, reaching 3,207 students through awareness sessions and screening 2,686 students across eight government and private educational institutions in Hyderabad.
The ₹33-lakh initiative focused on mental health awareness, early identification, counselling and support for students aged 13 to 21. The closing ceremony was held on Saturday at G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Science in Shaikpet.
Rotary District Governor Uday Pilani attended the event as the Chief Guest, while entrepreneur and women’s empowerment advocate Rashida Adenwala was the Guest of Honour. They unveiled Mindpot, a mental well-being app for students, and a Well-being Toolkit designed to provide practical guidance. The project’s annual report was also released.
PEP-UP Mental Well-being Project Screens 2,686 Students
Speaking at the event, Uday Pilani said peace within oneself was the foundation of mental well-being. He observed that mental health was closely connected to inner peace and that a lack of peace could lead to emotional disturbance.
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He also highlighted the importance of positive experiences during childhood and adolescence. According to him, emotional challenges experienced during formative years can affect individuals even in adulthood.
Pilani said genuine spiritual leaders often attract millions of followers because they serve as guides and coaches for mental well-being. He stressed the need to support children and young people in developing emotional balance.
Rashida Adenwala said students face pressure related to marks, academic performance, peer comparisons, social media, loneliness and excessive screen time. Recalling an interaction with CA students, she said many struggled to balance sleep and mobile phone use. She emphasised that sleep and healthy lifestyle choices play an important role in mental well-being.
Rotary Club of Hyderabad Mavericks President Ajay Kumar Kambhampati said the ₹33-lakh project was implemented under Rotary Global Grant GG2573626. It covered mental health awareness, screening, prevention, counselling and early intervention.
Dr. Geetha Challa, child and adolescent psychologist and Founder-Director of Manojagrithi, described mental health awareness as an important part of nation-building. She stressed the need to identify emotional and psychological concerns early and create supportive environments where young people feel comfortable seeking help.
Screening and Awareness Across Eight Institutions
The project covered Sri Sahithi High School, ZPHS Kothaguda, New Bloom High School, ZPHS Kondapur, Samskruthi High School, Government Junior College, G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Science, and ZPHS Peddamangalaram.
According to the project’s impact report, 3,207 students attended mental health awareness sessions, while 2,686 underwent Level 1 screening.
Of the students screened, 2,112 were categorised as Green, while 574 were placed in the Orange or Red categories, indicating the need for further attention and assessment. The categories were screening indicators and did not represent clinical diagnoses.
The programme followed a multi-stage process involving awareness sessions, standardised screening, further assessment, counselling and post-screening reviews.
Students were introduced to common emotional challenges, including stress, anxiety, sadness and low confidence. The sessions also covered coping techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, journaling and speaking to trusted adults. Students were encouraged to approach counsellors and seek professional support when required.
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The Rotary Club of Hyderabad Mavericks served as the host club, while the Rotary Club of Livermore was the international sponsor. Manojagrithi and Sudisha Counselling Centre supported project implementation and counselling.
The initiative aimed to strengthen mental health support within educational institutions through awareness, early identification and follow-up. Organisers called for continued cooperation among schools, parents, teachers and community organisations to support students’ emotional well-being.
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