Recognising that childhood and adolescence are crucial stages for holistic development, Happy Schooling initiative aims to create nurturing and trauma-free school environments that support students’ emotional well-being alongside academic growth.
In recent years, schools across the States have witnessed increasing levels of stress among students, along with concerns such as bullying, aggression, excessive screen usage, sleep disturbances and poor coping skills. These challenges have also made classroom management more demanding for teachers, underscoring the need for structured mental health support within school systems.
In response to these concerns, Project Happy Schooling, a joint initiative of the M.S. Chellamuthu Trust and Research Foundation (MSCTRF) and HCL Foundation has been implemented since 2018 in 24 schools run by the Madurai Corporation.
The programme focuses on promoting students’ well-being, empowering teachers, providing psychosocial support, and fostering resilient school communities.
A key component of the initiative is strengthening the role of teachers in student mental health. Through systematic training programmes, 318 teachers have been trained as Teacher counsellors, enabling them to identify psychosocial concerns and provide early support. These efforts have resulted in positive attitudinal changes, with teachers increasingly adopting supportive and mentoring roles within schools, said Trust founder and psychiatrist C. Ramasubramanian on Monday.
The initiative also offers need-based counselling services, through which 1,012 students have received individual psychological support for academic, emotional, and personal challenges. These interventions have led to noticeable improvements in students’ confidence, emotional regulation and overall well-being, he said.
Intra-school event.
As part of the Happy Schooling initiative, intra-school competitions were recently conducted across 24 Madurai Corporation schools to encourage creativity while promoting awareness of mental well-being and sustainable living. The events witnessed enthusiastic participation from students across various classes.
Two competitions—“Art from Waste” and “Poster Making on Healthy Lifestyle for Mental Well-being”—were organised. In the Art from Waste competition, students creatively transformed discarded materials into innovative and useful products, highlighting the importance of reuse, recycling, and environmental responsibility, said S. Selvamani, Director, Happy Schooling.
Students demonstrated remarkable creativity and optimism, viewing waste materials not as useless objects but as opportunities for innovation. Their creations reflected positive thinking, resilience and responsible use of resources, reinforcing the message that sustainability begins with an optimistic mindset.
The poster making competition enabled students to visually express ideas and strategies related to mental well-being, including healthy habits, emotional balance, self-care, and positive thinking. The posters served as effective tools for peer learning and mental health awareness within the school campus.
School campuses were filled with vibrant artwork and meaningful messages, showcasing students’ talents and social awareness. Participation in these activities helped students build creativity, confidence, teamwork, and presentation skills.
The events fostered a strong sense of pride and accomplishment among the students while reinforcing the importance of mental well-being, environmental responsibility, and positive living. The activities encouraged students to adopt healthier lifestyles, optimistic thinking, and sustainable practices in their daily lives. The Happy Schooling initiative continues to demonstrate its impact by strengthening school mental health systems and promoting happier, healthier, and more supportive learning environments, Dr Ramasubramanian said.
Published – February 09, 2026 07:56 pm IST
