The Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF), in collaboration with the Government College of Education (GCE), Sector 20-D, Chandigarh, organised a poster-making competition to mark World Mental Health Day. The event, themed “Mental Health Matters – Care, Share and Aware,” encouraged young students to creatively express their thoughts on emotional well-being and self-care. The initiative aimed to promote awareness and sensitivity around mental health, while encouraging open conversations about emotional resilience, self-expression, and empathy.

I’m writing about this initiative because mental health awareness, especially among adolescents, has become more important than ever. In schools and colleges, students often face invisible pressures related to academics, social expectations, and identity. Platforms like these not only help break the silence around mental health but also allow young minds to engage with it through art and creativity. The collaboration between an academic institution and a citizens’ foundation also shows how community-led education can play a big role in shaping emotionally aware citizens.

A Creative Platform for Mental Health Awareness

The poster-making competition saw enthusiastic participation from students of government and private schools across the tricity—Chandigarh, Panchkula, and Mohali. More than 500 entries were received from students of Classes 8 to 10, each reflecting unique perspectives on mental health challenges and personal coping strategies.

The posters carried strong messages about self-care, compassion, stress management, and emotional support. Many entries also depicted issues such as substance abuse, social isolation, and self-harm, handled sensitively and creatively. The judges noted that several students demonstrated a remarkable understanding of how lifestyle, environment, and peer pressure can influence mental well-being.

Theme: “Mental Health Matters – Care, Share and Aware”

The theme of this year’s event—“Mental Health Matters – Care, Share and Aware”—was designed to encourage students to think beyond awareness campaigns. It urged them to consider how mental health connects with everyday behaviour and relationships.

• Care represented compassion and empathy for self and others.
• Share encouraged open dialogue and emotional expression.
• Aware stood for understanding one’s feelings and recognising when to seek help.

By combining these three ideas, the organisers wanted to normalise conversations around mental health and show that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

Encouraging Emotional Expression Through Art

The organisers highlighted that visual expression can often communicate emotions better than words. Through colours, shapes, and symbols, many students depicted stress, anxiety, loneliness, and hope in powerful ways. Some posters portrayed how friendships, nature, or mindfulness can act as healing tools.

One of the judges remarked that “art provides a safe space for students to explore difficult emotions and talk about topics that they may otherwise hesitate to discuss.” This made the event not only a competition but also a collective exercise in emotional expression and community empathy.

Partnership Between Education and Civil Society

The collaboration between Government College of Education (GCE) and the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation is a strong example of how educational institutions and civil society can work together to create meaningful awareness. GCE, known for training future educators, used this opportunity to integrate mental health education into its larger goal of holistic teaching.

Meanwhile, the Citizens Foundation’s focus group on mental health and wellness brought expertise in community outreach and psychological support. Together, they created a space where students could learn, express, and share ideas about emotional well-being in a non-judgmental environment.

The Growing Importance of School-Level Mental Health Awareness

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition that mental health education must begin early. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a significant number of young people in India experience psychological distress linked to academic stress and social pressure.

Events like this one in Chandigarh help young students recognise signs of stress and learn healthy coping mechanisms. By engaging them through creative activities instead of lectures, the organisers successfully made mental health a part of normal school discussions. This shift—from stigma to understanding—is crucial in building emotionally resilient communities.

What the Participants Learned

For many students, the competition became a learning experience in empathy and awareness. Some said that working on the posters helped them reflect on their own emotions, while others said they realised how important it is to talk to friends or teachers during difficult times. Teachers and counsellors present at the event emphasised that awareness begins with listening and supporting each other.

Building a Culture of Emotional Well-being

Both GCE and CCF plan to continue this partnership with more student engagement activities, including mental health workshops, counselling sessions, and peer support initiatives. The long-term vision is to build a “culture of care” in schools—where emotional well-being is treated with the same importance as academics.

The organisers said the next step will involve training teachers to identify early signs of mental distress and creating safe communication channels within schools. They believe that when schools make emotional well-being a priority, they not only improve learning outcomes but also nurture healthier, happier individuals.