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AI Counselling Wellness Program Mental Health Education

Mansik shakti Foundation

The Mansik Shakti Foundation is a non profit organization registered as Section 8 under Companies Act 2013, Govt. of India, with a mission centered around promoting mental health and academic excellence, particularly for students. Its core themes are "Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind" and "Mental Health for Academic excellence'. The foundation emphasizes early intervention, prevention, and the development of evidence-based mental health strategies. It uses digital tools like mobile apps and web-based platforms to reach students and provide support.

RELIEF is a digital mental wellness app that helps users quickly understand their emotional state through a brief, evidence-based check-in. It provides instant, easy-to-understand insights and guides users toward appropriate support, from self-care tools to professional help when needed. The app combines awareness with daily wellness features like mood tracking, stress management, and reflection. Designed for accessibility and early intervention, RELIEF supports users in taking timely, informed steps toward better mental well-being.

Programme

To achieve this, Mansik Shakti Foundation has initiated a wide range of programs that are practical, evidence-based, and culturally appropriate. These programs are grouped into six key areas: mental health awareness; education and training for students, teachers, and families; digital and psychological screening and assessment; research and innovation focused on Indian youth; translation of knowledge into actionable guides and resources; and, finally, delivery of mental health support services. This is a humble but determined initiative, rooted in the belief that no student should suffer in silence. Mental health care must be made accessible, relatable, and preventive in nature. Mansik Shakti does not aim only to diagnose psychiatric disorders; rather, it focuses on addressing underlying issues, identifying emotional risk factors, and promoting a culture of mental strength, resilience, and support. Through collaboration with institutions, professionals, and communities, the Foundation hopes to create a future where mental health is not an afterthought—but a shared responsibility and a national priority.

Caution

Digital mental health approach has its limitations. Consulting a qualified mental health professional is a pre-requisite for individuals’ safety and correct diagnosis. If you have not done so, please self-refer yourself to a mental health professional through this system The rapid expansion of digital mental health applications has transformed access to psychological support. Mobile applications, AI chatbots, self-help platforms, and digital cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) programs have the potential to reduce stigma, improve accessibility, and partially address the enormous mental health treatment gap, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as India (1,2)...
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Our Stakeholders

Students
Universities
Research Centres
Parents

How it works, Four Steps for uncertainty to cleartiy

Assess

10-25 minute online screening using scientifically designed questions.

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Understand

A clear report across 6 markers of mental well-beinging in plain language.

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Interpret

Optional counsellor sesstion to walk you throught what the results actually mean.

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Improve

Structured next steps, resources, and a path you can revisit over time.

The Mansik Shakti programme focuses on preventive, supportive, and scalable mental-health services designed to improve emotional well-being and bridge gaps in care. The programme combines emotional education, This program offers wellness initiatives and psychometric screening for mental helath condition. The core philosophy of our programme is early intervention. Rather than waiting for severe emotional illness to emerge, the programme seeks to identify emotional difficulties early and provide structured pathways toward support. Students can access emotional conversations, wellness content, screening options, counselling referral systems, and specialist support where necessary. The programme is designed to function through collaborative care models integrating technology with human expertise.

The vision of Mansik Shakti Foundation

The Mansik Shakti Foundation is a non profit organization registered as Section 8 under Companies Act 2013, Govt. of India, with a mission centered around promoting mental health and academic excellence, particularly for students. Mansik Shakti Foundation is a mental-health initiative dedicated to strengthening emotional well-being, promoting awareness, reducing stigma, and improving access to mental-health support through innovation, research, and compassionate care...

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Web App

Student's Clinical Details

(Optional, EMR)

App for Assessment

(Login Required)

Empowering Minds

Student's Mental Health App

Download for Android Download for iOS

How it works, STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP)

Education in India is highly competitive and places substantial psychological strain on students, with mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and stress rising significantly after admission. Studies report wide prevalence ranges—depression (8.5–71%), anxiety (~35%), and stress (~51%)—alongside a persistent treatment gap driven by stigma, confidentiality concerns, and limited awareness. These challenges are compounded by academic pressure, transitional stressors, and negative attitudes toward mental illness among students. Globally, similar trends highlight university students as a high-risk group for psychological distress, often with underrecognized early symptoms due to reliance on self-referral systems...

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Disclaimer Statement for RELIEF Preventive Digital Mental Health Management Platform

Education in India is highly competitive and places substantial psychological strain on students, with mental RELIEF is a preventive digital mental-health and wellness support platform designed to promote emotional well-being, resilience, stress management, early identification of emotional vulnerability, and access to mental-health support pathways. The platform integrates wellness education, AI-assisted emotional engagement, psychometric screening, counselling pathways, tele-support, and referral systems to support students and young adults in a safe and accessible manner...

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RELIEF Preventive Digital Mental Health Management Platform

RELIEF is a preventive digital mental-health and wellness platform developed to support students and young adults through:

  1. Emotional wellness support
  2. Stress management
  3. Resilience-building
  4. Psychometric screening
  5. AI-assisted emotional engagement
  6. Counselling pathways
  7. Tele-support
  8. Referral services...

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Relief Plus
ABDM

RELIEF: A PREVENTIVE MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS ECOSYSTEM

Our initiative consists of an integrated wellness and self-development ecosystem, mental-health education, and screening pathways for emotional and mental-health conditions, designed primarily to support early identification and preventive intervention among students and young adults. The initiative was conceptualized with the understanding that emotional difficulties frequently emerge gradually and often remain unnoticed until substantial distress develops. Therefore, rather than waiting for severe symptoms to appear, the system emphasizes proactive identification and support during earlier stages of emotional vulnerability...

The central objective of the program is not diagnosis but early recognition, emotional awareness, wellness promotion, and strengthening of resilience. The initiative aims to create emotionally accessible pathways that help students understand their emotional well-being and encourage timely support-seeking behaviour.

A major component of the initiative involves use of digitized psychometric tools developed specifically for screening and understanding emotional-health indicators. These tools were designed and culturally adapted within the Indian context to ensure contextual relevance and better applicability among local student populations.

Development involved literature review, domain identification, item generation, expert consultation, pilot testing, psychometric evaluation, and validation procedures. The tools underwent systematic testing for reliability and validity, and findings from developmental studies have been published in peer-reviewed scientific work.

The Digital Psychometric System Evaluates

  • Severity of stress
  • Sources of stress
  • Emotional and mental-health symptom indicators
  • Risk factors
  • Resilience level and positivity
  • Functioning level and wellness status

This multidimensional framework recognizes that emotional well-being cannot be understood solely through symptom measurement. Students differ substantially in their experiences, strengths, vulnerabilities, and coping resources.

The psychometric findings are interpreted through an algorithm-based decision framework developed using available clinical guidelines, literature evidence, and findings from validation studies.

Importantly, the platform does not provide psychiatric diagnosis, nor does it replace comprehensive assessment by mental-health professionals. The system is intended solely as a screening and wellness-support mechanism. Emotional experiences remain complex and require contextual interpretation. Therefore, psychometric findings should always be interpreted cautiously and within broader clinical understanding.

Students experiencing emotional distress are strongly encouraged to contact their institutional counsellors, mental-health professionals, or available support systems. Individuals requiring immediate assistance are advised to access Tele-MANAS (14416) or local emergency support services.

Following completion of assessment, users receive wellness-oriented feedback and recommendations. The system guides students toward self-development and wellness pathways rather than focusing exclusively on symptoms. Recommendations may include general methods for improving emotional well-being and maintaining healthy daily routines.

The wellness program combines education, awareness, and practical self-care approaches delivered through web-based platforms. The objective is to help students actively participate in strengthening emotional well-being and lifestyle practices.

Support should begin before suffering becomes severe.

By combining early identification, culturally relevant psychometric systems, mental-health education, and wellness programs, the initiative seeks to reduce treatment gaps and strengthen emotional well-being through preventive and accessible pathways.

Program Overview: Student Mental Health Empowerment through Digital Self- Assessment


1. What is the Program?

A digital mental health program that provides students with 24x7 access to scientifically validated self-assessment tools and culturally integrated support for psychological well-being. It is designed as a safe, confidential, and empowering resource for early identification, awareness, and self-guided care.

2. Who is the Beneficiary?

University and college students (ages 18–30), especially those facing academic stress, emotional challenges, identity issues, or general mental fatigue. Institutions, educators, counselors, and parents also benefit indirectly through improved student well-being.

3. How It Works

Students log in to the digital platform and complete brief, evidence-based psychological assessments. They receive personalized feedback and options for next steps: self-care, family discussion, connecting with university counselors, or consulting mental health professionals integrated into the program.

4. What is the Principle?

The core philosophy is student empowerment—equipping individuals with tools for self- awareness, early identification of mental health risks, and informed decision-making, within a culturally sensitive and stigma-free ecosystem

5. Why Should Someone Use It?

  • Confidential, stigma-free access
  • Early detection of distress
  • Encourages self-help and mental growth
  • Connects to support services
  • Promotes autonomy, awareness, and emotional resilience

6. What is the Cost?

Absolutely free of cost for students and universities. There are no usage limits or subscription fees. It is offered as a public mental health initiative under the Mansik Shakti Foundation.

7. How Was It Developed?

The program was co-designed by psychiatrists, psychologists, educators, and digital experts, following consultations with academicians and policymakers. It is based on original Indian research (MASS battery) and aligned with global best practices.

8. What is the Outcome?

  • Increased self-awareness
  • Early detection of emotional distress and psychological symptoms
  • Strengthened peer, family, and counselor engagement
  • Promotion of positive mental health behaviors
  • Integration of traditional Indian well-being practices

9. What Are the Merits?

  • Validated tools for Indian students and published
  • Confidential and stigma-free
  • Linkage to both modern and cultural mental health support
  • Promotes autonomy and reduces help-seeking delay

10. What Are the Limitations?

  • It is not a substitute for clinical diagnosis
  • Needs digital literacy and internet access
  • Effectiveness depends on user motivation and institutional follow-up
  • May require cultural adaptation for non-urban or vernacular populations

20–25% of students suffer from some form of psychological distress

Services

Psychological Assessment
Our psychological assessment uses science-backed tools to help students identify stress, anxiety, and emotional challenges early. It provides personalized insights for timely support and care.
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Mental Health Education
Mental health education builds emotional awareness through workshops and digital tools. It empowers students, teachers, and parents to support well-being effectively.

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Professional Care Access
We provide easy access to qualified mental health professionals through teleconsultations. Students can connect with counselors or psychiatrists for timely and confidential support.
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Challenges in Student's Mental Health

In today’s rapidly evolving world, student life has become far more complex than just academics and exams. It is shaped by intense academic pressure, social expectations, economic stressors, family dynamics, and the overwhelming influence of technology. Mental health for students is no longer just about diagnosing disorders—it’s about enabling them to learn, grow, cope with challenges, and lead fulfilling lives.
Culture of pressure and competition

Students today face an unrelenting demand to be the "best"—achieve top grades, gain admission to prestigious institutions, and secure high paying jobs. This culture of constant comparison leads to chronic stress, anxiety, and self-doubt, often pushing students beyond their emotional limits.

Stigma around mental health

Despite growing awareness, mental health issues are still heavily stigmatized. Students fear being labelled "weak" or "unstable" and often choose to suffer in silence. This fear prevents many from seeking timely help, allowing issues to worsen over time.

Family expectations and lack of emotional dialogue

Families often impose high expectations without providing emotional support or safe spaces to talk. Many students feel disconnected at home, unable to share their struggles due to a lack of understanding or generational gaps in mental health awareness.

Digital influence and emotional isolation

While social media connects students virtually, it often fuels unhealthy comparisons, validation- seeking, and digital fatigue. Despite being “connected,” students may feel more isolated than ever, leading to feelings of loneliness and low self-worth.

Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic

The pandemic disrupted academic routines, social interactions, and future plans. Remote learning, social isolation, and prolonged uncertainty severely impacted students’ mental health, many of whom are still struggling to regain a sense of normalcy.

Limited Access to Professional Help

India faces a vast treatment gap in mental health—with over 80% of those in need receiving no formal care. Most educational institutions lack trained mental health professionals or structured support systems, leaving students without resources when they need them most.

Student mental health challenges are not just personal—they are institutional, cultural, and systemic. Addressing them requires a comprehensive approach that includes awareness, early identification, peer and family involvement, trained professionals, and policy-level change. Mental health must be seen not just as an emergency issue but as a foundation for success and well-being. By listening to our students, equipping schools and colleges with tools, and reducing stigma, we can create an environment where no student has to suffer alone—and where emotional well-being is a shared responsibility. Only then can we build a generation that is not just academically competent, but emotionally resilient and socially empowered.

Solutions to Student Mental Health Challenges: A Holistic, Preventive, and Compassionate Approach

Addressing the growing mental health challenges among students requires more than offering counseling services or helpline numbers—it calls for a comprehensive, system-wide transformation that prioritizes prevention, trust, access, and compassion. Mental health is not just about treating illness; it is about nurturing well-being from the ground up.

First, we must create safe, stigma-free environments where students feel comfortable expressing their emotional struggles. This begins with awareness campaigns that normalize conversations about mental health—both within classrooms and beyond. When emotional literacy is integrated into the school and college curriculum, students learn to identify and articulate their feelings, seek help early, and support their peers.

Second, institutions must embed psychological self-assessment tools into routine student life. Digital self-assessment apps—especially those built with cultural sensitivity and in local languages—can serve as private, empowering tools for students to explore their mental state without fear or judgment. These tools should provide immediate feedback, suggestions for self- care, and pathways to professional help if needed.

Third, we need accessible, affordable, and decentralized support systems. Not every student can reach a psychiatrist or psychologist, especially in rural or underserved areas. Trained peer supporters, teachers, and counselors can act as first responders. Task-sharing models—where non specialist personnel are trained in basic mental health response—can reduce the burden on professionals while expanding the care network.

Fourth, confidentiality and consent must be at the core of any intervention. Students should retain control over their data, decide when and how to involve family or faculty, and be empowered to make informed choices about their care. Without this trust, even the best tools will fail to engage those who need them most.

Fifth, building resilience and life skills through structured workshops, digital modules, and co- curricular activities is essential. Stress management, time organization, self-regulation, and relationship skills must become part of daily learning, not just crisis response. This turns prevention into a continuous developmental process rather than an emergency measure.

Sixth, crisis support systems must be strengthened. Apps and institutions should have real-time alerts, direct referrals to helplines like Tele-MANAS (14416), and emergency care pathways for students in distress. A single button in an app, if linked correctly, can save a life—provided the response is swift, empathetic, and professional.

Seventh, family and faculty sensitization is crucial. Workshops for parents and teachers on understanding adolescent psychology, responding with empathy, and recognizing red flags can bridge the trust gap. Without supportive adults, students often feel isolated even when help is technically available.

Finally, everything must be research-backed and continuously evaluated. Programs must measure their impact, listen to student feedback, and adapt. Government, academic institutions, NGOs, and the private sector must collaborate to scale what works and retire what doesn’t. In sum, solving student mental health challenges is not about a single policy or program—it is about reimagining the entire educational ecosystem as a space that values emotional well-being as much as academic success. When we shift from reaction to prevention, from silence to support, and from exclusion to empathy, we don’t just improve mental health—we unlock the full human potential of an entire generation.

Digital Mental Health Programmes

Digital mental health programmes provide students with round-the-clock access to self-assessment tools, emotional support, and professional guidance through user-friendly mobile and web platforms. These programs are designed to be culturally relevant and accessible, making mental health care more inclusive and stigma-free. By enabling early identification of stress, anxiety, and related concerns, they offer personalized feedback and connect students to timely support, especially in areas where traditional services are limited.

Mental health challenges in students’ lives are increasingly visible, with alarming rises in suicide rates, depression, stress, and academic pressure. Early intervention requires timely identification, screening, and assessment. However, in a culturally diverse country with limited mental health resources, such processes are difficult to organize. These challenges are further compounded by barriers such as stigma, denial, lack of awareness, poor mental health literacy, parental attitudes, prejudice, and a lack of engagement from teaching faculty. We believe that empowering students with tools for self-assessment, scientific decision-making, and autonomous access to care can help overcome many of these obstacles.

Accordingly, we developed six psychometric instruments based on the theme of multidimensional evaluation, validated them, digitized the tools, and tested their effectiveness and concordance rates against psychiatrists’ clinical opinions. The system is straightforward: students complete the assessment in approximately 20 minutes and receive a structured report detailing their stress level, warning signs, mental health symptoms, risk profile, resilience, positivity, and overall functioning.

Recommendations are provided for guided decision-making—whether for self-development, connecting with a counsellor or psychiatrist, or calling Tele-MANAS for immediate support. To date, trials have involved 1,042 students across four institutions. Findings indicate strong instrument validity: 15% experienced severe stress, 21% reported significant symptoms, 7% required psychiatric consultation, and 29% required counselling. Concordance rates between psychiatric assessments and app-based recommendations ranged from 86% to 90%, with high positive and negative predictive validity. While not without limitations, this model offers an effective preliminary framework for largescale mental health screening.

We have established collaborations with universities, providing the software free of cost with the request that they ensure follow-up support for students in need. Eleven universities have signed memoranda of understanding to date. This workshop will discuss digital innovations in student mental health, examining their effectiveness, scalability, and real-world feasibility.

Screening AI Counselling Wellness Program Mental Health Education

Our Project

The Mansik Shakti Mental Health Program is a nationwide, tech-enabled initiative designed to support the emotional well-being of students and young adults across India. Focused on prevention, early intervention, and accessible care, the program uses digital tools, AI-assisted triage, and psychometric assessments to identify mental health challenges before they escalate. Through a dedicated mobile app, students can self-assess, receive personalized feedback, and connect with mental health professionals via confidential teleconsultations. The system is backed by a secure, consent-based EMR platform, ensuring privacy and continuous care.
More than just an app, the project integrates with educational institutions and public health systems to create a holistic mental health ecosystem. It equips colleges and universities with dashboards to monitor anonymized mental health trends and empowers faculty and peer mentors to offer meaningful support. With its 12-pillar model—ranging from awareness and education to crisis management and research—the program aims to reduce stigma, expand reach, and build emotional resilience in youth. By aligning with national goals like NEP 2020, Tele-MANAS, and Viksit Bharat @2047, Mansik Shakti is transforming how India understands, delivers, and sustains student mental health care.

How does it work?

Using psychometric tools which are newly developed and validated by research study. "Psychometric tools" are simply tests or assessments that measure things like a person’s abilities, personality traits, or mental health.

Step 1
Stress and Mental Health
Use the app's nine structured psychometric toos to assess stress
Step 2
Complete the assessment
The app analyzes your responses using a default mode clinical algorithm
Step 3
Dowload Report
Use the recommendations to seek further support, build resilience
Step 4
Take the Next Step
Use the app's nine structured psychometric tools to assess stress
Step 5
Recommendations
Use the recommendations to seek further support, build resilience
Step 6
Understanding the Report
Use the recommendations to seek further support, build resilience

Unique Features

Self-Assessment in Mental Health: An Overview

Self-assessment in the context of mental health refers to the process by which individuals evaluate their own psychological well-being, emotional states, and behavioral patterns. It is a reflective and self-inquiring process that can help identify symptoms of mental health conditions, personal strengths, weaknesses, and coping strategies. Self-assessment is a powerful tool, especially for students, as it empowers them to monitor their mental health, make informed decisions, and take proactive steps to maintain or improve their well-being.

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Evidence-Based Algorithms for Mental Health

Evidence-based algorithms are like trusted "recipe guides" that doctors and other professionals use to make informed decisions. These guides are built on solid facts, research, and real-world data, showing the most effective and reliable methods for diagnosing and treating specific conditions or problems. Instead of relying on guesses, these algorithms follow proven steps to ensure the best outcomes for the individual.

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Merits & Advantage

NoTension4Students.com leverages modern technology and research-driven methodologies to provide a scalable, efficient, and student-friendly alternative (i.e. easy to expand, quick to use, and simple for students to understand) to traditional mental health services. It aligns academic goals with psychological well-being, ensuring students thrive both mentally and academically. This platform exemplifies how mental health initiatives can integrate seamlessly into educational settings, transforming the way students manage stress and achieve their potential.​The Significance of Screening and Assessment of School Populations for Mental Health Mental health issues among children and adolescents are an increasingly critical concern globally, and India is no exception.

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What is the result?

In the bustling halls of educational institutions worldwide, a silent epidemic is steadily gaining ground—a psychological crisis that threatens the well-being of our students. Today, more than half of them stand at the brink of this looming crisis, grappling with severe stress, depression, suicidal thoughts, addiction, and a myriad of issues stemming from competitiveness, academic pressures, and peer expectations. This epidemic is spreading like wildfire, and it demands a concerted, urgent effort to save lives and safeguard the mental health of our future generations. Amidst the pursuit of knowledge, personal growth, and dreams of success, students often confront a formidable foe—the invisible struggles within themselves. The modern educational landscape is rife with challenges that can have profound consequences on the psychological well-being of our youth. The relentless pressure to excel academically, secure high grades, and enter prestigious institutions weighs heavily on students' minds. The psychological challenges of students are not isolated incidents but prevalent issues affecting individuals and communities across the globe. By bringing this issue into the public discourse, we can create a society that values the mental well-being of its students as highly as their academic achievements.

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What is the tool?

Empowering students in India with early detection, personalized support, and data-driven strategies to enhance resilience, manage stress, and promote mental well-being, fostering a healthier and more successful educational journey.Empowering students in India with early detection, personalized support, and data-driven strategies to enhance resilience, manage stress, and promote mental well-being, fostering a healthier and more successful educational journey.

Psychometric Scales

Psychometric tests are standardized tools designed to measure an individual's psychological attributes, such as cognitive abilities, personality traits, attitudes, emotions, and mental health. For students, psychometric assessments can offer valuable insights into various aspects of their functioning, from academic skills to emotional well-being.

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Sales Assessment

Self-assessment in the context of mental health refers to the process by which individuals evaluate their own psychological well-being, emotional states, and behavioral patterns. It is a reflective and self-inquiring process that can help identify symptoms of mental health conditions, personal strengths, weaknesses, and coping strategies.

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Results using evidence criteria

Evidence-based algorithms are like trusted "recipe guides" that doctors and other professionals use to make informed decisions. These guides are built on solid facts, research, and real-world data, showing the most effective and reliable methods for diagnosing and treating specific conditions or problems. Instead of relying on guesses, these algorithms follow proven steps to ensure the best outcomes for the individual.

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Guided-decision-making

The second set of criteria in the algorithm developed ‘guided-decision-making’ and makes one out of three recommendations Need to see a counsellor Need to see a psychiatrist These outcomes are determined by using set criteria e.g. presence of a psychiatric warning symptom demands a psychiatric evaluation or presence of high level of stress in conjunction with mental health risk demands connecting with a counselor

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About the Result and the Next Step

Self Development

What is Self-Development

How it helps in improving mental health

How it helps in improving mental health

Connect with Counsellor

What is Counselling?

How it helps in mental health conditions?

How to find access to counsellors?

Connect with Psychiatrist

What is role of psychiatrist

How do they help?

How to find a psychiatrist?

Cautionary Notice for Users

Please note that participation in these assessments is entirely voluntary and based on your free will. It is important that you do not take the test under any pressure from others. Before proceeding, we encourage you to carefully read the full information about these tests, their purpose, and what actions are required afterward. For students aged 16 to 18 years, it is advised that you take the screening test with your parents' involvement and presence, not independently. Parental consent is necessary to ensure that your parents are fully informed about your participation and the results of the self-assessment.

While we understand that you may feel hesitant to share certain details in the presence of others, it is crucial that your parents are aware of your mental health and understand the steps you are taking to evaluate it. For students aged 18 years and above , as adults, you have the right to make individual decisions, including providing consent and performing the test on your own. You may download and review the report independently. However, it is highly recommended that you follow the advice provided in the report. We encourage you to discuss your results with your parents, share your thoughts with them, and seek their input.

The Mansik Shakti Foundation is a non profit organization registered as Section 8onally, speaking with your mentors or teachers can provide further insight and support. Please remember that seeking help promptly is important and delaying it can be harmful. Your parents are often your best allies, and they are the first people who can offer support during times of difficulty.

Collaborators

Validation of the Mental Health Assessment Scales for Students(MASS)

The Mental Health Assessment Scales for Students (MASS) were developed through a comprehensive psychometric research programme to create a culturally appropriate, multidimensional digital mental health screening system for Indian university students. The validation programme was conducted in three phases involving more than 1,000 participants, including students from medical, engineering, and pharmacy colleges and psychiatric patients for clinical validation, under institutional ethics approval with informed consent. The studies demonstrated that MASS is a reliable, valid, and scalable instrument capable of identifying varying levels of stress, resilience, psychological distress, psychosocial vulnerability, functional impairment, and overall mental health risk. The system classifies individuals into normal, mild, moderate, and severe risk categories, enabling evidence-based self-care recommendations, counselling, psychiatric referral, and longitudinal monitoring. Collectively, the findings support MASS as a scientifically validated digital platform for the early identification, prevention, and management of mental health conditions among university students. The MASS research programme has generated 10 peer-reviewed scientific publications, covering scale development, psychometric validation, multidimensional risk assessment, clinical psychopathology, digital screening, predictive modelling, risk stratification, clinical concordance with psychiatrist assessment, and implementation of digital mental health screening within educational institutions. Together, these studies establish MASS as one of the most comprehensively evaluated indigenous digital mental health screening systems developed in India.

Publications from the MASS Research Programme

1. Shrivastava A, Datta M, De Sousa A, Nayak O, Gupta M, Vaibhav K, et al.
Development and Validation of Novel Mental Health Assessment Scales for Students (MASS) in India. Open Journal of Psychiatry. 2025;15(4):313–331. doi:10.4236/ojpsych.2025.154025.

2. Shrivastava A, Datta M, De Sousa A, Nayak O, Gupta M, Vaibhav K, et al.
Assessment of Mental Health Risk among University Students in India: A Multidimensional Staging Model. Open Journal of Psychiatry. 2025;15(4):272–294.

3. Shrivastava A, Datta M, De Sousa A, Nayak O, Gupta M, Vaibhav K, et al.
Clinical Psychopathology and Functional Outcomes among University Students Using Multidimensional Digital Assessment Tools. Open Journal of Psychiatry. 2025;15(4):256–271. doi:10.4236/ojpsych.2025.154021.

4. Shrivastava A, Gupta M, Vaibhav K, Datta M, De Sousa A, et al.
Digital Mental Health Screening among Indian University Students: Psychometric Validation of the Mental Health Assessment Scale for Students (MASS). Annals of Indian Psychiatry. 2026. doi:10.4103/aip.aip_74_26.