Pune: Some of India’s leading experts in mental wellness came together at the MindForward India Conclave, held in Pune on 29 October 2025. The conclave, one of the first of its kind in the city, also marked the launch of the Happy Studyspaces program — a student-focused mental wellness initiative that aims to provide professional mental health programs and mentoring support to over 50,000 students across Pune’s colleges, free of cost.
Implemented by the Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF), part of the Apollo Hospitals Group, and supported by bp, an integrated energy company, Happy Studyspaces is a campus mental well-being initiative designed to make every campus a space of care, connection, and confidence. The program integrates campus orientations with a patented, AI-powered mental wellness assessment and a tiered care model — offering everything from resilience tips to counselling and specialist referrals, with built-in follow-up. Students also gain access to a dedicated counselling helpline, a WhatsApp support channel, and peer-led HappyU Clubs that promote mindfulness and emotional fitness.
Partnering with bp allows educational institutions to leverage the company’s global expertise in employee well-being and mental health frameworks. Such collaborations bring evidence-based awareness programs to students, fostering resilience and emotional intelligence early in life. bp’s resources and outreach enable large-scale, science-backed campaigns that help destigmatize mental health conversations on campuses. Joint initiatives like this demonstrate a shared commitment to holistic development — bridging corporate responsibility with youth welfare — and set a benchmark for sustainable, inclusive, and mentally healthy learning environments.
The speakers at MindForward India included Dr. Sandeep Vohra, Tele-Mental Health Pioneer and Founder, NWNT; Dr. Poornima Gauri, Director, NICHE Advocacy Foundation; Dr. Girija Mahale, Senior Psychiatrist and Head, Symbiosis Centre for Emotional Wellbeing; Dr. Sadhana Natu, Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, Modern College; Anuveet Kaur, Founder, AapkiiTherapist; and Dr. Jyothi Menon, Senior Vice President – People Operations and Advisory, bp.
From discussing the need for culturally relevant peer support groups to help students from diverse backgrounds manage social and academic stress, to exploring how institutions and teachers can identify when students are in mental distress, the conclave offered a wide range of perspectives for academics and institutional leaders. Speakers also emphasized that meaningful change requires integrating mental health support and access within every educational institution, ensuring that graduates entering the workforce are more mentally resilient, capable, and emotionally centered.
Given the rising incidence of mental health issues among students in India — particularly in relation to employability and placement readiness — these insights were among the most valuable takeaways from the event.
MindForward India was headlined by Dr. Kannan Gireesh, Psychiatrist and CEO of LiveLife Education, who shared moving real-life case studies of young students achieving remarkable personal and academic growth through the power of positive affirmation, hope, and mental wellness.
About the Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF)
The Apollo Telemedicine Networking Foundation (ATNF), part of the Apollo Hospitals Group, is India’s pioneering organization in digital health and community care, having impacted over 4 million people. For over two decades, ATNF has leveraged technology and clinical expertise to bridge healthcare access gaps across geographies. Working with over 40 corporates and donors, ATNF’s initiatives span primary, specialty, and mental healthcare, empowering institutions and rural, tribal, and underserved communities to make physical and mental well-being accessible to all.
