New Delhi | Mental Health Confab 2026, the annual flagship event organised by Youth for Mental Health (YMH) in association with Sangath, was held on October 4, 2026, at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra. Featuring Saathi Support, a campus-based peer-support programme designed to help university students navigate low mood and related life challenges, the event brought together approximately 1,300 attendees to encourage open, inclusive and stigma-free conversations about mental health.
Now in its fifth edition, Mental Health Confab continues to provide a platform where young people can share experiences, explore mental well-being and contribute to changing perceptions around mental health. Curated by students and designed for students, the event placed young voices and lived experiences at the centre of the conversation.
Six Interactive Zones Encouraged Open Conversations
With six dedicated zones, Mental Health Confab 2026 offered participants multiple ways to engage with mental health issues, express themselves and connect with others. The programme featured panel discussions, street theatre, creative workshops, dance movement therapy and opportunities for 9share their personal experiences.
Panel discussions explored student well-being in universities and the challenges young people face while navigating family expectations in Indian households. Other participants engaged with street theatre, created their own zines, explored dance movement therapy and shared glimpses of their mental health journeys through a video booth.
The variety of activities allowed attendees to participate in ways that suited their interests and comfort levels, reinforcing the event’s central idea: young people should be able to show up as they are and become active voices in conversations about mental health.
Over 60 Speakers and Artists Contributed to the Discussion
More than 60 speakers and artists participated in the event, representing a range of perspectives and experiences. The contributors included psychologists, people with lived experience of mental health challenges, advocates and popular content creators.
Through discussions and interactive sessions, they explored what it means to navigate young adulthood today, including the pressures, expectations and experiences that can influence mental well-being.
Organisations working to advance mental health care also hosted information booths throughout the day. These provided attendees with an opportunity to learn about initiatives, services and approaches contributing to the evolving mental health care landscape.
Saathi Support Highlights the Importance of Peer Support
Saathi Support, featured at Mental Health Confab 2026, is a campus-based peer-support programme designed to help university students manage low mood and related life difficulties.
The initiative reflects the importance of accessible support systems within educational institutions, where students may face academic pressure, personal challenges and changing social expectations. Peer-support programmes can offer opportunities for students to connect, share concerns and explore appropriate sources of support.
More information about Saathi Support is available at Metropolis Study.
Mental Health Is a Collective Responsibility: Kunwar Inayat
Emphasising the broader significance of the event, Kunwar Inayat, Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Youth for Mental Health, highlighted the need to approach mental well-being as a shared social responsibility.
“Mental Health Confab 2026 reinforced a fundamental understanding: mental health goes beyond individual responsibility; it is a collective responsibility that calls for empathy, systemic support, and shared action. The discussions highlighted the importance of creating environments where people feel safe speaking up, seeking support, and accessing the care they need without stigma or hesitation. As we move forward, our focus must be on building a culture where mental well-being is embedded in the way we lead, work, and care for one another.”
Her statement underscored the importance of creating supportive environments in educational institutions, workplaces and communities, where people can discuss mental health concerns without fear of judgment and seek appropriate care when needed.
Accessibility and Inclusion Remained Central to the Event
Accessibility was an important component of Mental Health Confab 2026. Indian Sign Language interpreters were present in every room, helping make the programme more accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing participants.
The event also reached more than 100 institutions, extending its conversations and activities beyond individual attendees. By combining lived experiences, expert perspectives, creative expression and accessible participation, the gathering sought to make mental health discussions more inclusive and relevant to young people.
Creating Space for Young Voices in Mental Health
Mental Health Confab 2026 highlighted the diversity of experiences that shape mental well-being and the importance of listening to young people themselves. Its student-led approach encouraged participants to engage with mental health through discussion, creativity, personal narratives and peer connection.
With approximately 1,300 attendees, more than 60 speakers and artists, six interactive zones and participation from over 100 institutions, the fifth edition brought together multiple perspectives around a shared goal: making mental health conversations more open, accessible and free from stigma.
The event reinforced the message that supporting mental well-being requires empathy, inclusive spaces, accessible resources and collective action. By placing young voices at the heart of the discussion, Mental Health Confab continues to encourage a culture in which mental health is recognised as an essential part of individual and community well-being.
