Mann Mental Health Fest 2026: Apna Mann, Apni Baat
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“Aaj tumhare mann mein kya hai?”
A question that opened up conversations, encouraged self-expression and reminded young people that their feelings deserve to be heard.
On 10 October 2026, World Mental Health Day, Annabhau Sathe Natyagruha in Byculla became a space for conversations that are often missing from everyday classrooms and homes. Mann Mental Health Fest 2026, an initiative by Project Mumbai, brought together students from over 40 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) schools, their teachers, mental health counsellors, experts, artists and partner organisations for a day dedicated to emotional well-being.
Centred on the theme Apna Mann, Apni Baat, the festl created a safe and engaging environment for children and adolescents to explore their emotions, share their concerns and understand that asking for help is a sign of strength.
Because mental health conversations do not always come easily, Mann set out to make them more accessible through storytelling, panel discussions, interactive workshops, creative expression and opportunities to connect with organisations working in the field.
Making Space for Young Minds
The festival was graced by Smt. Ritu Tawde, Mayor of Mumbai, who spoke about the importance of mental health during adolescence and the value of open conversations in helping young people navigate their challenges.
Drawing from her own experiences, she reflected on the importance of friendships and staying connected with school friends, even years later. Her message underscored a simple but significant truth: meaningful relationships and supportive peer networks play an important role in emotional well-being, not just in adulthood but throughout childhood and adolescence.
The day brought together people from different walks of life around a shared understanding: children need spaces where they can speak without fear of judgement, feel understood and learn how to seek support when they need it.
Voices That Made a Difference
The festival brought together an inspiring mix of voices from public leadership, mental health, media and social impact. Charul Malik, actor and media personality, Dr. Prashant Shah, Consultant Psychiatrist and President of the Bombay Psychiatric Society, Radhika Agarwal, and Shishir Joshi, Founder and CEO of Project Mumbai, joined the fest as keynote speakers, sharing perspectives that reinforced the importance of making mental well-being an everyday conversation.
The event also featured an engaging panel discussion moderated by Dr. Henal Shah, Professor at TNMC and BYL Nair Hospital, psychiatrist specialising in child and adolescent mental health, and member of Project Mumbai’s Mental Health Advisory Board. The discussion explored the challenges young people face while growing up and the role that schools, families and communities can play in supporting their emotional well-being.
Through these conversations, the festival created space for students to reflect, ask questions and recognise that seeking support is a sign of strength.
Learning Through Stories, Emotions and Digital Safety
Finding Your Voice Through Storytelling
Shabia Ravi Walia, an award-winning media professional, bestselling author and screenwriter, led a workshop on storytelling and emotions. Through the process of creating and building stories, students were encouraged to explore their feelings, understand how emotions influence their experiences and discover ways of expressing what they may find difficult to put into words.
Understanding Cyberbullying and Cyber Safety
Rama Dandekar and Aditi Lohakare from Responsible Netism conducted an interactive workshop on cyberbullying, cybersecurity and responding to online harm.
As children spend an increasing amount of time in digital spaces, understanding online behaviour and knowing where to seek help have become essential life skills. The workshop helped students explore what cyberbullying can look like, how to recognise potentially harmful online interactions and why it is important to respond to cyber-related concerns with awareness and care.
The session also highlighted the importance of creating safer digital environments where children feel comfortable reporting incidents and seeking support rather than facing online distress alone.
Conversations That Continued Beyond the Stage
The festival also featured interactive stalls by organisations working across different areas of child development, emotional well-being and inclusion. Participating organisations included Ummeed (Child Development Centre and Empowerment All Children in India), Arpan (A Step towards prevention of child sexual abuse – Arpan NGO), Responsible Netism (Responsible Netism), Pehlay Akshar (Homepage – Pehlay Akshar Foundation) and Antarang (Antarang Foundation | Empowering India’s Youth).
These stalls offered students opportunities to engage directly with organisations, discover available resources and learn about the different forms of support that can help them navigate challenges as they grow.
By bringing these organisations together under one roof, Mann helped connect children, educators and families with a wider network of people working towards the well-being and development of young minds.
When Creativity Becomes a Language for Expression
Art and performance were integral to the festival, providing students with ways to participate, express themselves and engage with the theme beyond conventional discussions.
Students took part in a poster-making competition, with their creations displayed at the auditorium during the event. The posters reflected their interpretations of mental health and offered a visual glimpse into how young people understand the world around them.
Another creative highlight was the bench-painting competition, featuring benches made from recycled plastic. The activity brought together creativity and sustainability, giving students an opportunity to transform recycled materials into something colourful and meaningful for their community.
The Govandi Arts Festival added a vibrant musical dimension to the day with a live rap performance. Bringing the energy and language of young Mumbai to the stage, the performance demonstrated how art and contemporary culture can open up conversations and connect with young audiences in relatable ways.
A Collective Effort for Children's Mental Health
Mann Mental Health Fest 2026 was an effort to bring together BMC school students, municipal representatives, mental health professionals, educators, artists and civil society organisations around an issue that deserves greater attention in our everyday lives.
The festival recognised that supporting children’s mental health cannot rest with one individual or institution. It requires families that listen, schools that nurture, communities that support and systems that make help accessible.
By creating a space where students could participate, ask questions, explore their emotions and engage with experts and peers, Mann sought to make mental health a more approachable part of growing up. The fest was about encouraging conversations that can continue in classrooms, homes, friendships and communities long after the event has ended.
Because every child deserves to know that their feelings matter, their voice deserves to be heard and they do not have to navigate difficult moments alone.
Mann- Apna Mann, Apni Baat.
