Thapar Institute Leads Mental Health Awareness Month with Powerful School Outreach on Consent and Digital Safety

Thapar Institute Leads Mental Health Awareness Month with Powerful School Outreach on Consent and Digital Safety

Patiala, 5th May – As part of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Thapar Institute Counselling Cell (TICC) of Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Patiala organised an impactful awareness session at Ryan International School, Patiala, on Friday, May 2, 2025. The session, titled “Unmute Yourself: Raising Awareness on Sexual Harassment, Boundaries, Consent & Digital Responsibility,” aimed to sensitise school students to critical issues surrounding psychosocial safety and responsible digital conduct.

The session was led by Dr. Sonam Dullat, Manager, Student Counsellor at TICC, under the guidance of MHSA members Mannan, Shivansh, Parshant, Gagan, Anirudh, Minal, and Vanshaj. It was delivered by TICC’s Mental Health Student Ambassadors (MHSA), who play an active role in spreading awareness among young audiences. Over 500 students from Classes 6 to 12 participated in the program, which was strategically divided into two age-appropriate segments.

Students from Classes 6 to 8 were guided through topics such as understanding sexual harassment, identifying personal boundaries, and learning how to report unsafe or uncomfortable situations. For senior students in Classes 9 to 12, discussions focused on cyber harassment, digital consent, and emotional wellbeing in the digital space.

The session employed an interactive approach, encouraging students to engage in real-life scenarios and voice their thoughts openly. A concluding Q&A segment further deepened their understanding and allowed for clarification of key concepts.

Ms. Pooja Sharma, Principal of Ryan International School, praised the initiative, highlighting its relevance in the current context. “It is essential to create safe spaces where children can learn about these crucial issues with clarity and confidence,” she remarked.

“Mental health is a foundation, not a luxury,” said Dr. Dullat, emphasising the importance of early intervention and open dialogue in shaping emotionally secure individuals.

TICC’s initiative underscores the growing need for sustained awareness around consent, boundaries, and digital responsibility. By empowering students to ‘unmute’ themselves, the session reiterated the significance of voice, choice, and respect in today’s educational and digital environments.