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Poor mental health is holding children back

Every child is created to flourish. But not every child grows up in conditions that make that possible. For those facing poverty, violence, or exclusion, the toll on their mental health runs deep. It affects how they learn, how they connect, and how they respond to daily challenges. In India alone, nearly 1 in 4 children in school struggle with their mental health each year, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people.

1 in 2

people globally will struggle with a mental health condition in their lifetime

50 million

school- aged children in India experience mental health challenges each year

60%

of the 1,300 children we surveyed in Rajasthan struggle to act on core life skills

$1.03tn

estimated economic cost of poor mental health in India 2012-2030

Teachers are critical

Teachers are critical, but they’re under-supported

Schools are one of the few systems that reach children consistently from an early age – and teachers are at the heart of that. The way they show up shapes the environment of every classroom: whether children feel safe or unseen, confident or withdrawn.

Yet in India, up to 78% of teachers are burned out. And when teachers are overwhelmed, classrooms become more reactive and children feel it. Supporting teacher wellbeing is thus one of the most direct and practical ways to improve children’s mental health.

Teachers are critical

OUR VISION

Mental health for every child’s flourishing

At Brio, we want to see a world where very child has the mental health skills to learn, grow, and lead a meaningful life, no matter their circumstances.

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Equipping teachers

 OUR MISSION

Equipping educators to teach and model wellbeing

We work to improve children’s mental health and development by equipping teachers with the wellbeing skills, classroom practices, and support they need to help every child flourish.

We use an evidence-based framework called Acceptance & Commitment Training, which helps prevent mental health conditions and builds psychological flexibility, also at the community level.

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What changes when children’s and teachers’ mental health improves?

Children engage more in class

Children start asking more questions, share their ideas, and engage more deeply in learning. In Khushi Shala classrooms, 51% of students improved their wellbeing within 4 months of implementing a year-long curriculum, with an effect size of 0.34, far above comparable programs.

 

Girls' confidence grows

Girls speak up more in class. As one school leader in Rajasthan put it: “I noticed that the girls are responding more, showing more interest. If they don’t like something, they now express it.”. 65% of girls in Khushi Shala classrooms showed meaningful wellbeing gains within 4 months.

 

School attendance rises

When teachers are emotionally present and compassionate rather than stressed and depleted, classrooms become places where children want to be. For example, as a result of the Khushi Shala program, teachers reported a 15% increase in student attendance.

 

Wellbeing ripples out into the community

The changes don’t stop in the classroom. Teachers also use the practices for themselves and their own families. For example, 96% of teachers who participated in our Hausla program started their own wellbeing practices. Children do the same: sharing what they’ve learned, helping peers, becoming more present in their communities.

 

“The program emphasized empathy, communication, and student empowerment, which made a noticeable difference in my classroom.”

 

Pooja Kaur, Educator, Delhi

“The impact goes far beyond the classroom. Students carry this confidence into competitions, presentations, and daily interactions.”


Anshuman Trivedi, School Principal, Delhi

“In the end this program really saved me... whenever life got hard I thought: be present, have compassion, do what matters. That's it."

 

Jaya, Facilitator – wellbeing sessions for educators, India

Let’s cultivate flourishing for every child

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