Indian Institute of Astrophysics and YourDOST Team Up to Promote Mental Wellness in Academia

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics partners with YourDOST to offer students and faculty access to online counselling, interactive webinars, and resources for personal growth and mental health awareness.

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) has partnered with YourDOST to provide students and faculty access to online counselling sessions with qualified therapists and interactive webinars on the YourDOST platform, focusing on personal growth and mental health awareness. This collaboration blends IIA's rich historical legacy with YourDOST's innovative mental health approach, aiming to foster open conversations about mental health, particularly in academic settings.

As part of this collaboration, YourDOST will conduct regular workshops and provide tailored support to both faculty and students at IIA. The partnership will offer 24/7 online counselling, mental health awareness programs, and specialized sessions for faculty and staff. Additionally, YourDOST will deliver personalized interventions and create a safe environment for students to discuss their mental health concerns openly.

Speaking about this partnership, Prof Annapurni Subramaniam, Director of IIA said “At IIA, we have always believed in the holistic development of our students. By partnering with YourDOST, we are taking a significant step towards ensuring that our students have access to modern mental health resources. This initiative will empower our students to navigate the challenges of academic life”

Richa Singh, CEO & Co-Founder of YourDOST, commented, "We are deeply honoured to partner with an institution as venerable as IIA. We are excited to support IIA’s students in their journey of personal and academic growth, equipping them with essential tools for emotional resilience."

Students’ mental health has become a pressing concern, with a notable increase in distressing incidents over the past decade. A 2022 report by the National Crime Records Bureau revealed that 13,044 students lost their lives due to mental health challenges, showing a slight 0.3% decrease from the previous year. However, over the last ten years (2013-2022), such cases have surged by 64%, affecting 103,961 students and indicating a troubling trend. This increase underscores the urgent need for mental health support and preventive measures, particularly as academic pressure, career expectations, and personal issues continue to burden students.

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