‘Muskurayega India’ to address youths’ mental health issues

LUCKNOW: The National Service Scheme (NSS), Uttar Pradesh, in partnership with Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and UNICEF, UP, has launched ‘Muskurayega India’ initiative. The campaign aims at addressing the issue of mental health among youth and community during the Covid 19 pandemic.

“The NSS-UP has a network of around 307600 youth volunteers, 3076 program officers, 75 district nodal officers and 36 program coordinators in several state and private universities. The NSS quickly responded to the urgent need of addressing the Covid related issues and organised various campaigns to encourage preventive measures in communities,” said Anshumali Sharma, OSD and state liaison officer, NSS. The objective was to provide mental health solutions by building social capital (university teaching cadre) and adapting digital technologies, he said.

“In a short span of time, NSS

“UNICEF IS EXTREMELY HAPPY TO BE PARTNER IN THE DRIVE AND SEES THIS AS A BEGINNING THAT HAS POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT CAMPUS AND YOUTH IN GENERAL EVEN AFTER COVID-19 CRISIS IS GONE.”

rolled out ‘Muskurayega India’ initiative across 36 universities of UP. So far, it has supported 1649 callers and major stress has been around education and psychological anxiety,” said Bhai Shelly, communication for development specialist, Unicef.

He said, “UNICEF is extremely happy to be partner in the drive and sees this as a beginning that has potential to benefit campus and youth in general even after Covid-19 crisis is gone.”

Sharma said, “National Service Scheme, a volunteer organisation of students, under the aegis of ministry of youth affair and sports, India, has been functioning to motivate and integrate students with community on various social issues.”