The George Institute for Global Health India hosted a policy symposium in Hyderabad on April 21, 2026, focusing on the role of life skills education in strengthening resilience among adolescents living in urban slums.

These young people face mounting pressures from everyday stressors, complex family dynamics, limited parent–child communication, and challenging socio-economic conditions.

Titled "Addressing Adolescent Mental Health Using Life Skills Education: ANUMATI – An Intervention in Urban Slums in India," the symposium brought together government representatives, non-governmental organisations, and community stakeholders—including parents, adolescents, and school principals.

Prof Pallab Maulik, Director of Research at The George Institute for Global Health India, said, “It is critical to roll out interventions like ANUMTI 2.0 in community-based settings, especially in urban slums, as many adolescents are missed by school-based programmes. School drop-outs, adolescents who marry early, and those engaged in part-time work face different sets of challenges, and it is important that our interventions are designed to reach and capture the needs of all these groups as well.”

Adolescents in Hyderabad and Delhi, particularly those in low-income neighbourhoods and informal settlements, experience multiple stressors that heighten mental health risks. Girls, in particular, encounter safety concerns, restricted mobility, and exposure to interpersonal violence, contributing to anxiety and low self-esteem.

Dr Salima Bhatia, Health Specialist at UNICEF India, said, “Nearly 38 suicides occur every day among adolescents in India, highlighting the urgent need to prioritise adolescent mental health. Adolescents are often eager to learn how they can bring about positive change in their own lives and in their communities. To improve adolescent health holistically, it is essential to build strong linkages across initiatives, including Yuva Clinics and other adolescent-focused programmes like the T Hub, Hyderabad Declaration launched in Telangana.”

The symposium opened with a “Voices from the Ground” panel featuring adolescents, parents, and a school principal. Participants shared that their involvement in the Adolescent Expert Advisory Group under the ANUMATI 2.0 project increased their awareness and enabled them to positively influence peers and family members, helping reduce harmful ideations related to suicide and addiction.