Annexure III TOOLKIT

GROUP ACTIVITES THAT CAN BE CONDUCTED IN CAMPUSES FOR MENTAL

HEALTH PROMOTION

1. Hold an orientation seminar

You can organize a seminar/interactive presentation using a brief Youth mental health PPT.
During this seminar/interactive meeting; you can distribute the mental health myths and facts
sheets too.
2. Walkathon
Organize a silent walkathon inside your campus. Have a group of volunteers join for this and
carry around placards containing brief messages/slogans regarding mental health/road safety.
This can be organized during lunch breaks etc. Pick the slogans from the list of slogans
provided.
3. Counterpoint Competition
Counterpoint is a modified form of debate. There is one statement provided which is actually
an inaccurate/inappropriate one. These statements may be announced two to three days in
advance of the competition so as to give time to the participants to prepare. The participants
are expected to present a strong argument AGAINST the given statement. The person who
presents the best/strongest /most convincing argument wins. If there are many participants,
the three best counterpoints can be declared as the winners. Each participant is given not
more than five minutes to present his/her argument/counterpoint. If there is shortage of time,
this activity can be conducted in written format. The participants would be asked to write
down rather than present their counterpoint orally and submit the same for judging. A limit of
one page can be kept for the writing.
Statements for generating counterpoints (Arguments against) on mental health:
1. Mental illness happens to only people who are ‘weak’ in their personality.
2. Mental illnesses are ‘rare’. These are not matters of concern for most people.
3. If we keep physically fit, we do not have to bother about mental health. It is automatically
taken care of.
4. Generate a slogan competition
Announce a slogan generation competition. On the theme ‘Mental Health Matters! Allow
one/two days’ time and then ask the participants to drop their entries into a drop box with
their names etc. Subsequently the best five entries can be declared. All the entries can also be
displayed on a notice board/poster. The best entries can be displayed/flashed through a
projector one day at a time (perhaps once each week) during any assembly time.
5. Joy Kit Drive
The purpose of this activity is to encourage people to focus beyond themselves and their
needs and give to society in small ways. A focus on ‘Giving’ can help us generate positive
emotions/broaden our perspective and make us more empathetic to others. Convey this logic
through an announcement and organize a single day/two days Joy Kit drive. Keep one more
decorated Joy Kit Boxes in your campus for people to get specified usable materials in good
condition that they may wish to give for donations ( e.g. notebooks, stationary, toys, clothes).
Donors write a one-line wellbeing message along with their donation. Ask for volunteers to
help in sorting and sending the collected materials to local NGOS/orphanages/old age homes.
[You need to contact one/more local NGOs first to check what they wish to receive as
donations and make the joy kit announcement accordingly]
6. Open the doors
(Announce information for mental health care) Discuss with your teachers/ other members in
your community to find out the names and contact details of well trained counselors and
mental health professionals (clinical psychologists and psychiatrists) in your city/town. Also,
check if there is any crisis help- line/suicide help line in your region. Put up their contact
details for those who may want to seek help but may be too hesitant to ask or feel too down to
make an effort to find out. Try to put up these details in places where individuals do not feel
awkward in taking it down the details due to lack of privacy and fear of being made fun of.
Think of ways of making information on mental health services, TeleManas and other
helpline numbers as well as self-help resources and website available in interesting and
multiple ways to encourage help-seeking.
7. Health Club
Organize a mini club activity once in three months for about one hour for discussing mental
health. Discuss with your management/teacher and arrange to give away certificates of active
involvement in organizing /participating in such a club. The club meetings could be used to
share multiple health issues including mental health wherein the members could provide
ideas about what works for them. Some of the potential themes could be: a) How to motivate
ourselves to exercise regularly? b) How to give up smoking? c) How to manage mood
swings? d) How to manage time wisely? e) How can we mentally support each other better?
In some of these meetings, audios regarding mental health/videos could be played with the
purpose of giving information or for inspiration.
8. Oath taking
Engage interested peers in oath taking .Find the right occasion (e.g. a function/ a meeting) to
read the oath aloud and ask your peers to repeat the same, while you read the
sentences/phrases one by one.
9. Slogans
Slogans (short crisp statements/questions) can make people stop and think about an
issue/provoke them to challenge their own misconceptions/negative attitudes or inspire them
to act in ways that are healthy and helpful for themselves and for society. Note: slogans can
be used in multiple ways, for example as part of any exhibition and mental health stall or
during the walkathon. It is a good idea to have reminders about mental health not just once or
twice in a year when you organize a walkathon/exhibition but through actions/mini events
that repeatedly occur (e.g., putting up one slogan prominently once in two weeks on a
randomly chosen day)
A list of Slogans that you may want to use:
1. Focus on your strengths and not just on your weaknesses!
2. Your undiscovered strengths are your greatest treasures.
3. The treasures of your mental strengths multiply when you use them wisely in your daily
life.
4. Zoom life’s camera: let us notice, acknowledge and appreciate the little good things around
us.
5. Mental health consultation need not be only for treating mental illness. It can also be used
to enhance wellbeing and productivity.
6. It is great to have the support of friends for our mental health. But sometimes, it is
important to use the support of a trained mental health professional too!
7. There is no health without mental health.
8. Mental health is fundamental.
9. Being open to taking help for mental health issues is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of
strength.
10. We all need a little help sometime- for maintaining our wellbeing. It is ok to seek help
when we need it.
11. What is wrong in learning about our mind?
12. Mind matters! Do we care about feeling fit-mentally too?
13. Mental health deserves as much attention and care as physical health.
14. For flu: you talk to doc! For blues: why do you stop?
15. You got to nourish your mind to flourish
16. Getting help isn’t sign of weakness, it’s a strength
17. Self-care isn't selfish - take time for your mental health
18. Healthy minds build healthy communities
19. Your mental health journey is unique - find what works for you
20. Talk to someone you trust - it can make all the difference
21. Education includes mental health - learn how to care for your mind
10. Happy Canvas
Use a space to place 4-6 chart sheets and sketch pens. Encourage students to draw and write
one phrase/word that shows what can make them happy (these should not be things that need
purchase!)

11. In-Spark- Inspiring stories

Find a space where one inspiring story from newspaper/book/magazine can be put up once in
two weeks. The story should be about dealing with life’s challenges and inspiring in nature.

12. Youth voices/ group discussions

Organize and invite youth themselves to participate in a panel discussion on themes related to
mental wellbeing such as ‘What can help us cope with exam stress?’, ‘Sharing experiences of
making and working on goals wisely’.

13. Conduct ‘Take a Challenge’ Campaign

Conduct ‘Take a Challenge’ Campaign in your campus/neighbourhood/social circle. Ask
them to think of one little thing they could do to improve their mental well-being or that of
someone around them. Ask them if they can commit to it for the next 6 weeks. They can
share the commitment with you, and you can collate all the commitments at the end of the
challenge along with their experiences and put them up with only the initials of the
participants. A list of such challenges can be shared to pick from.
• Cutting down social media use by 25% of your current use-time for 6 weeks
• Sleeping and waking up 30 minutes early for 6 weeks and using that time for a work-out or
for planning the day
• Stopping and spending ten extra minutes with someone to listen to them after saying ‘Hi’ if
they seem unusually stressed/down- adopting this practice for the next 6 weeks with any one
in one’s acquaintance /social circle

14. Film /video Screenings and Discussion Panels

Description: Screen films or videos that address mental health issues. Activities: Follow-up
discussion panels with mental health experts to talk about the themes and provide resources.
15. Gratitude Wall
Description: Set up a wall where students can post notes about what they are grateful for.
Activities:
● Use a bulletin board or a designated wall space.
● Provide sticky notes and pens for students to write on.
● Encourage everyone to add to the wall and read what others have written.

16. Mental Health Awareness Flash Mob Description

Organize a flash mob in a high-traffic area on campus to draw attention to mental health
awareness. Activities:
● Choreograph a simple dance or performance that conveys a message about mental health.
● Use props or signs with mental health statistics and resources.
● Film the flash mob and share it on social media to extend its reach

17. A Support Wall (Feeling low or stressed? Here are a few notes of support to uplift you!)
• Purpose: To create a space where students can leave supportive messages for their peers
without mention of their names
• Implementation: Set up a physical wall or a digital platform (e.g., online forum, social
media group). Encourage students to write positive messages, words of encouragement, or
quotes that can uplift others who may be feeling very stressed/distressed. Use colorful
markers, stickers, etc. to make the wall visually appealing. Note: Use supportive statements
that are not overly general or unrealistic or involve superficial reassurance.
Examples of supportive statements that can be used:
“Remember, you are not alone”
“It’s okay to give yourself time”
“It’s okay to be vulnerable”
“Self-care isn’t selfish”
“Ask yourself, how will you feel about this in 5 years?”
“Small steps forward are still progress”
“Taking a break doesn’t mean giving up”
"You don’t have to go through this alone; reaching out for support is a sign of strength."
"Taking time for yourself can be a powerful step toward feeling better."
18. A Coping Wall
• Self-talk /statements we make to ourselves that can help us cope with challenges…Would
you like to try any of these as your own self-talk statements to cope with challenges?
• Purpose: To provide students with examples of coping self-statements
• Implementation: Create a wall or digital space with a variety of examples of self-statements
that students can use to manage stress and anxiety. Make the wall visually engaging and easy
to understand. Note: Self-talk statements should not contain unrealistic advice such as ‘never
think negative’ or ‘forget about it’.
Examples:
“I am good enough.”
“This too shall pass”
“I can take this one step at a time”
“Breathe in, breathe out”
“I have gotten through hard times before. I can do this.”
“Every bad day is just 24 hours”
"I can focus on what I can control right now."
“Taking care of myself is a priority”
“I am doing the best I can, and that’s enough”
"I don’t have to solve everything today."

19. A Knowledge Wall: Expand your mental health awareness!

• Purpose: To disseminate information and debunk myths about mental health.
• Implementation: Create a wall or digital space with facts and statistics, related to mental
health. Hint: Use the facts/statements from PowerPoint slides shared and myths and facts
sheets. Also, include contact information for 24/7 tele help: TeleMANAS 14416

20. A Motivation Wall -It’s about you and your wellbeing!

• Purpose: To inspire and encourage students to prioritize their mental health.
• Implementation: Create a wall or digital space with inspirational quotes, uplifting messages,
and success stories and slogans mentioned in the toolkit. Use visuals, such as images, to
enhance the impact. Encourage students to contribute their own motivational messages