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CISCE to Engage 16 Lakh Students in Mental Health Guidelines
New Delhi: Conversations about mental health in schools are likely to go beyond just occasional awareness sessions and the CISCE is set to launch a three-tier CISCE Student Mental Health and Well-Being Conclave 2026, which will see nearly 16 lakh students from Classes VI to XII, around 32,000 teachers and over 3,300 affiliated schools across India come together to understand and discuss mental health.
The initiative will start at a classroom-level with regional conclaves and a national forum in Hyderabad and the objective will be to document students' experiences and concerns and translate them to actionable recommendations for healthier, more supportive school environments.
CISCE Mental Health Conclave 2026: What is the Initiative
The CISCE Student Mental Health and Well-Being Conclave 2026 is a three-phase initiative comprising:
- School-Level Mental Health and Well-Being Dialogues
- Regional Student Mental Health and Well-Being Conclaves
- National Student Mental Health Conclave
Aligined to World Mental Health Day on October 10, 2026, the CISCE is looking to create a mechanism through which the experiences of students are used to inform school practices and the eventual country-wide framework.
School-Level Discussions to Begin From October 4
School-level discussions are to start from October 4 to 31, 2026, across CISCE-affiliated schools. Students from Classes VI to XII are expected to contribute to weekly structured classroom discussions. The four themes for the conversations include:
- Student Stress and Academic Pressures
- Emotional Well-being, Digital Life and Positive Relationships
- Drugs, Substance Abuse and Healthy Choices
- Building Resilience and Help-Seeking Behaviour
These dialogue sessions are to help schools listen more systematically to students and enhance empathetic, peer-support and appropriate help-seeking behaviours. According to reporting on CISCE's guidelines, schools will conduct structured sessions of around 40–45 minutes each week for four consecutive weeks. Teachers are to facilitate the conversations and consolidate key observations and student perspectives.
18 Regional Conclaves to Follow
The second phase will take the discussions out of the individual classrooms. Regional Student Mental Health and Well-Being Conclaves are to be held virtually across 18 regions from November 4 to 14, 2026. Selected students and teacher mentors are to examine the issues from their school-level discussions. The regional process will involve identifying representatives for the national conclave through a selection process. This structure offers students multiple opportunities to participate, first within their classrooms and schools, then through regional representation.
National Conclave in Hyderabad
The initiative will conclude with the CISCE National Student Mental Health Conclave 2026, which is set to be held from November 20 to 22, 2026, at the CISCE Centre of Excellence in Hyderabad. The national event is expected to bring together:
- 72 student representatives from 18 regions
- 18 teacher mentors
- Mental-health experts
- Policy experts
- CISCE representatives
- Partner organisations and other stakeholders
The national level is expected to translate the experiences from the initial sessions to actionable recommendations and a broader framework of student well-being.
CISCE Student Mental Health Charter: What Will Be Prepared?
One of the major proposed outcomes is the CISCE Student Mental Health Charter. It is expected to present principles, rights, responsibilities and recommendations for creating supportive and emotionally safe school environments.
CISCE also plans to work towards:
- A Student Well-being Index
- A repository of exemplary school practices
- A White Paper on Emerging Mental Health Concerns among Adolescents
The initiative may subsequently be developed into a biannual Student Mental Health Conclave, coinciding with World Mental Health Day.
Why the Initiative Matters for Students
For many students, school isn't just a place for academic learning. It is where friendships, competition, social pressures, digital experiences and questions of identity and future intersect. That is why mental well-being is part of the overall learning environment. A supportive school should allow all students, including those who could require additional emotional, social or learning support, to participate meaningfully without stigma or exclusion.
The CISCE initiative is notable for placing student voices at the core of the process. Rather than solely formulating recommendations for students, CISCE is looking to collect their experiences first and take the perspectives from the classroom to regional and national platforms. The real test, however, will come later: how efficiently the recommendations from the initiative are put into actual school practices. At present, CISCE's three-tier model is an attempt to ensure that student well-being continues to be a part of school education beyond moments of crisis.
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