Pune, October 10, 2025: As part of its mission to expand mental health awareness and accessibility for young adults, Mpower, an initiative of the Aditya Birla Education Trust led by Mrs. Neerja Birla, has engaged with over 527,000 young adults across India between 2022 and 2025 through its centres, helplines, and campus outreach programmes. Analysis of these interactions indicates that academic pressures, career expectations, and social challenges are among the primary stressors for youth aged 18–25, highlighting the importance of targeted engagement and sustained mental health support.
Data from Pune shows that the city’s youth face a broad spectrum of mental health challenges, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), adult ADHD, anxiety, depression, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder, and mobile addiction. With a large student population and thriving corporate sector, Pune recorded engagement with approximately 2,67,000 young adults, including around 1,13,000 males and 1,46,000 females. This suggests that young women are seeking support more actively, while highlighting the ongoing need for targeted programmes to encourage greater participation among young men.
The scale of engagement demonstrates that youth in Pune are more receptive to seeking mental health support than those in Mumbai, Bangalore, Kota, or Delhi, reflecting comparatively better awareness and openness in the city. These trends emphasize the importance of continued outreach, early intervention, and tailored programmes that respond to the diverse mental health needs of young adults.
In response to these needs, Mpower mobilised a nationwide campaign across 50 colleges in 12 states on World Mental Health Day including Pune, providing safe spaces for students to openly discuss and address mental health challenges. In Pune, college campuses will host symbolic activities such as the “Art of Letting Go” Balloon Activity, where students release balloons symbolizing their worries. The initiative will be complemented by peer-led workshops and interactive sessions designed to foster dialogue, self-expression, and emotional well-being.
Mrs. Neerja Birla, Founder & Chairperson of Mpower, ABET said, “India’s youth hold immense potential, yet many struggle in silence and addressing this is a collective responsibility of us as a society. Our vision of Swasth Yuva Bharat is to nurture a generation that is resilient, mentally strong and emotionally balanced, achieved through early interventions in schools, empowering educators and strengthening peer networks and counselling support. At Mpower, we work with educational institutions on early intervention programs and promote mental health literacy in communities to create safe spaces where young people feel heard and empowered. This World Mental Health Day, it is time to move from awareness to action and make seeking help normalised.”
Beyond campuses, Mpower continues to expand initiatives into workplaces and communities. The Corporate Mental Health Pledge unites organisations nationwide to embed mental health into workplace culture, while the Human Library initiative enables adolescents and young adults to share lived experiences of anxiety, bullying, and resilience, fostering empathy, reducing stigma, and equipping peers with practical coping strategies.
For those in need of immediate, confidential support, Mpower’s 1on1 Mental Health Helpline is available 24/7 at 1800-120-820050.
About Mpower
Mpower, an initiative of Aditya Birla Education Trust is a pioneering social enterprise dedicated to transforming India's approach to mental health. Founded 9 years ago, Mpower has emerged as a leading force in spreading awareness, reducing stigma, and delivering holistic mental health care. With a robust team of over 200 trained professionals, Mpower impacts more than 121 million lives across seven cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Pune. Operating through five key verticals—Movement, Clinical Care, Outreach, Academia, and Mpower 1 on 1—Mpower offers a comprehensive range of services. The Movement focuses on changing cultural perceptions and alleviating stigma. Clinical Care provides world-class mental health services through the Centre, the Foundation, and the Cell, catering to various needs from holistic care to affordable support for the underprivileged. The Outreach vertical drives awareness and capacity-building through IGNITE Programs for schools, colleges, NGOs, and corporates. Academia equips individuals and professionals with skills to handle mental health crises and foster empathy. The Helpline offers 24/7 multilingual support, while special projects like Samvedana enhance mental health care in primary health centers. Mpower’s integrated approach and collaboration with government agencies underscore its commitment to creating a supportive and stigma-free mental health landscape.