Project SAATHI
Mental Health and Well-being Programme
for School Students
Project SEWA
About the Project
PROJECT SAATHI is a pioneering, unique and impactful pilot initiative of Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF) to improve the mental health and emotional well-being of school students. The four-month long daily engagement of students is a well-designed package of interventions that involves classical yoga and meditation, engaging games, fun activities, experiential life skills lessons, and community group activities designed to reduce stress and enhance physical and mental health well-being of students. As a four-month pilot project it is being implemented in six government schools of Chandigarh, in collaboration with School Education Department of Chandigarh Administration.
Project SAATHI was launched on January 28, 2026 by Governor of Punjab and Administrator Chandigarh, Shri Gulab Chand Kataria.
Building Resilient Minds, Healthier Futures
Project SAATHI is a pioneering initiative by the Chandigarh Citizens Foundation (CCF) aimed at addressing the growing mental health challenges among school students. In an increasingly highpressure environment, SAATHI provides young minds with the tools, support, and safe spaces they need to thrive emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Impact We Aim to Create
Reduced stress and anxiety among students
Improved emotional well-being and self-awareness
Enhanced physical health and concentration
Why This Matters
Rising levels of stress, anxiety, emotional distress.
Lack of structured mental health support in schools
Need for early preventive intervention to build resilience and life skills
Pilot Vision
Duration: Four Months and Daily structured sessions
Scalable model for replication across schools
Training of mental health counsellors and school teachers
The Four Pillars of Project SAATHI
YOGA & MEDITATION
For mindfulness and emotional balance
FUN ACTIVITIES & GAMES
To reduce stress and spark joy
LIFE SKILLS LEARNING
Building resilience, confidence, empathy and decision-making
GROUP & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Fostering connection, teamwork & support
"Congratulations to the entire Project SAATHI team for this wonderful initiative. It is truly heartening to see Chandigarh shining with Project SAATHI—an initiative dedicated to strengthening the mental health of school students which is undoubtedly the need of the hour.
As the Nodal for the School Health Program it is often deeply concerning to witness the emotional and mental challenges faced by our students. In such a scenario, SAATHI brings a refreshing and meaningful change—no lectures, no textbooks, no teaching just a safe and open space where students can express themselves freely and speak from the heart.
A much needed and inspiring step for Chandigarh school students by CCF in the right direction.
Mrs. Gurpreet Kaur
Nodal Health & Wellness coordinator for all Chandigarh Govt Schools
Project Detail
- Pilot project in six Govt. schools of Sectors 10, 16, 18, 33, 38 and 39.
- Capacity building training for mental health counsellors and teachers is being conducted by a team of clinical psychologists of PGIMER and Govt Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh. 12 training workshops have been conducted for 87 Counsellors till April 2026. A set of 21 senior counsellors have been trained as Master Trainers.
- Orientation workshop on mental healthcare subjects for all 108 School Principals was conducted by mental health professionals of PGIMER and GMCH Medical College on 28 Januar 2026.
- Life skills learning for students is being imparted through daily sessions which are being conducted for all sections of Classes 7,8, 9 and 11. About 600 students in each school (in total about 3600 students). The sessions have been integrated with the time table for these schools.
- Project SAATHI is being conducted by CCF’s project team of about 25-30 members, consisting of trained yoga teachers, clinical psychologists, project managers and volunteers.
- Independent evaluation studies will be conducted to assess the effectiveness and impact of these preventive interventions.
- Project SAATHI has the potential to evolve into a scalable national model for promoting mental health and emotional well-being among school children.
- More project videos, photos and details can be seen at: https://chandigarhcitizensfoundation.com/mental-health-students/
- Pilot project in six Govt. schools of Sectors 10, 16, 18, 33, 38 and 39.
- Capacity building training for mental health counsellors and teachers is being conducted by a team of clinical psychologists of PGIMER and Govt Medical College & Hospital, Chandigarh. 12 training workshops have been conducted for 87 Counsellors till April 2026. A set of 21 senior counsellors have been trained as Master Trainers.
- Orientation workshop on mental healthcare subjects for all 108 School Principals was conducted by mental health professionals of PGIMER and GMCH Medical College on 28 Januar 2026.
- Life skills learning for students is being imparted through daily sessions which are being conducted for all sections of Classes 7,8, 9 and 11. About 600 students in each school (in total about 3600 students). The sessions have been integrated with the time table for these schools.
- Project SAATHI is being conducted by CCF’s project team of about 25-30 members, consisting of trained yoga teachers, clinical psychologists, project managers and volunteers.
- Independent evaluation studies will be conducted to assess the effectiveness and impact of these preventive interventions.
- Project SAATHI has the potential to evolve into a scalable national model for promoting mental health and emotional well-being among school children.
- More project videos, photos and details can be seen at: https://chandigarhcitizensfoundation.com/mental-health-students/
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