Health, WASH & Nutrition

The Youth Mental Health Program by People's Action for National Integration (PANI) addresses the urgent and growing mental health needs of young people in rural Uttar Pradesh, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recognizing the profound impact of mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression and stress on youth, the program aims to reduce the treatment gap and improve access to mental health services for approximately 46,000 young people aged 10 to 24 in the Tarun block of Ayodhya district.

Rooted in over 39 years of grassroots experience, PANI leverages its strong community connections and existing adolescent empowerment initiatives to enhance mental health literacy and foster readiness among youth to seek help. The program implements a multi-layered, stepped care model that includes mental health awareness, peer support, and progressively intensive therapeutic interventions, delivered through trained Peer Support Workers and supervised by mental health professionals.

Key elements of the program include community-based mental health literacy sessions, psychosocial counseling, regular screenings for anxiety and depression, and referrals for specialized psychiatric care when needed. It uniquely utilizes mobile technology and social media platforms to disseminate awareness content and facilitate self-assessment, making mental health support more accessible and youth-friendly.

PANI’s approach also emphasizes capacity building through extensive training of peer workers and field staff, ensuring sustainability and local leadership in mental health care delivery. The program is designed to break down stigma, increase early identification of mental health issues, and promote positive youth development by empowering young people with knowledge, skills, and access to quality care.

Through this initiative, PANI envisions a transformative impact that not only improves the mental well-being of youth but also strengthens community resilience, enabling young individuals to contribute meaningfully to society and the economy.

The project aims at addressing the urgent issue of malnutrition in two aspirational districts of Uttar Pradesh: Siddharth Nagar, and Balrampur. The project works to strengthen local systems and implement community-based interventions to improve the nutritional status of vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under five years of age.

This pilot project by PANI focuses on enhancing health-seeking behavior in communities to boost access to NCD preventive services while also strengthening village-level systems for early NCD detection and prevention. It addresses both awareness and healthcare infrastructure to combat non-communicable diseases effectively.

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To ensure the food security for 3750 poorest and marginalized households through establishing mechanism for availability, accessibility and affordability of food throughout the year.