Hyderabad, October 31, 2026: The Rotary Club of Hyderabad Mavericks has concluded its year-long PEP-UP Mental Well-being initiative, a ₹33 lakh project that reached 3,207 students with mental health awareness sessions and screened 2,686 students across eight government and private educational institutions in Hyderabad.
The initiative, described as the largest and longest-running mental well-being programme of its kind in Telangana, targeted students aged 13 to 21. The closing ceremony was held at G. Narayanamma Institute of Technology and Science, Shaikpet, Hyderabad, on Saturday.
Mindpot app and toolkit launched
Rotary District Governor Uday Pilani, who served as Chief Guest, and Guest of Honour Rashida Adenwala, an entrepreneurial leadership icon and women’s empowerment advocate, unveiled Mindpot, a mental well-being app for students, and a Well-being Toolkit, a practical handbook to support student mental health. The project’s annual report was also released at the event, attended by Rotarians, teachers, and counsellors.
Pilani emphasised the importance of nurturing mental well-being during childhood, stating that peace within oneself is foundational for mental health. He noted that many adults face emotional challenges rooted in early experiences and highlighted the influence of spiritual leaders as mental well-being guides. Rashida Adenwala addressed the pressures faced by students, including academic performance, peer comparison, social media, and screen time, and called for greater awareness of lifestyle impacts on mental health.
Screening and awareness outcomes
According to the project’s impact report, 3,207 students participated in mental health awareness sessions, while 2,686 underwent Level 1 screening. Of those screened, 2,112 were categorised as Green, and 574 as Orange or Red, indicating the need for further attention and assessment. These categories were used to identify students requiring additional support, though they were not clinical diagnoses.
The programme followed a structured approach, beginning with awareness sessions, then screening, further assessment, counselling, and post-screening reviews. Sessions covered topics such as stress, anxiety, sadness, low confidence, and coping strategies like deep breathing, mindfulness, journaling, and seeking support from trusted adults.
Participating institutions and partners
Eight educational institutions participated: 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. The Rotary Club of Hyderabad Mavericks was the host club, with the Rotary Club of Livermore as international sponsor. Manojagrithi and Sudisha Counselling Centre provided implementation and counselling support.
Ajay Kumar Kambhampati, President of the Rotary Club of Hyderabad Mavericks, said the initiative was implemented under Rotary Global Grant GG2573626, focusing on awareness, screening, prevention, counselling, and early intervention. Dr. Geetha Challa, Child and Adolescent Psychologist and Founder-Director of Manojagrithi, stressed the importance of early identification of emotional and psychological concerns and creating supportive environments for youth.
Call for continued support
The PEP-UP project aimed to move beyond conventional awareness programmes by integrating screening, early identification, counselling, and follow-up, with the goal of fostering emotionally healthy educational environments. The project concluded with a call for educational institutions, parents, teachers, and community organisations to collaborate in supporting student mental health and resilience.
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