Hyderabad: Adolescents in Hyderabad’s urban slums are being trained as peer supporters under Anumati 2.0, a life-skills programme led by The George Institute for Global Health, to help their friends to properly handle emotional distress, discourage self-harm, and guide them towards healthier choices.
The initiative is being implemented across 51 urban slums in the city, combining in-person sessions with digital outreach through social media. It focuses on equipping adolescents with practical skills to deal with everyday challenges — ranging from mental health and substance abuse to physical well-being and suicide prevention.
The programme, which has recently begun, will run until next year. Researchers plan to publish data on issues affecting adolescents, including depression, parental pressure, and addiction, offering insights into the effectiveness of such interventions.
At a policy symposium held on Monday, stakeholders, including parents, students, government officials, representatives from UnicefIndia, the Institute of Mental Health, and AIIMS Bibinagar, discussed rising mental health concerns among adolescents and the need for scalable interventions.
For many participants, the programme has had a personal impact. T. Rajeshwari, now working as a data entry operator, recounted a moment that stayed with her: “My best friend was about to attempt suicide and shared her thoughts with me. I immediately used what I learned from Anumati 2.0 to counsel her and then connected her with professionals. Her issue was with a loved one, but counselling helped, and today she is working in the same company as me.”
Parents involved in the programme said it changed their perspective as well. They learnt the importance of being approachable and understanding.
According to Professor Pallab K. Maulik, director of research at the institute, the programme aims to improve the overall quality of life for adolescents. “We are delivering life-skills education both in person and through social media. Our goal is to reduce depression and address issues like substance abuse and suicide risk. The project will eventually cover 105 slums across Delhi and Hyderabad,” he said.
A 12-year-old boy shared how he had fallen into drug use through his elder brother and would feel angry and frustrated without it. “I even ran away from home twice,” he said. After undergoing counselling through the programme, he now says he wants to rebuild his life and support his family.
A keynote speaker, Dr Salima Bhatia, said that India records around 38 adolescent suicides every day. “It is like losing an entire classroom daily,” she said, pointing to family stress, relationships, and exam pressure as key triggers. She called for the establishment of a state-level resource centre to address adolescent mental health concerns more effectively.
Adolescents in Hyderabad, especially from those in low-income neighbourhoods and informal settlements, face family pressures such as conflict at home, high expectations, and financial strain, contributing to emotional distress. Overcrowded living spaces, limited privacy, economic insecurity, and exposure to conflicts create ongoing stress that affects both emotional and behavioural wellbeing. Girls, in particular, face safety concerns, restricted mobility, and risks of interpersonal violence, adding to anxiety and low self-esteem, said researchers for selecting Hyderabad slums.
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