DISHA is a flagship mental wellness programme of Narayana Schools, launched in 2017. The initiative began after educators and counsellors observed worrying patterns among students and conducted a pilot study to understand the severity of the situation.
The name DISHA, meaning direction, reflects the programme's role in guiding students through academic stress, social changes and everyday challenges, helping them grow in confidence. Since launch, Disha has been at the forefront of nurturing and promoting the mental health and wellness of students, parents, educators and employees, with students asthe key focus.
As students face a wide and growing range of social and emotional challenges, Disha addresses collective concerns around self-image and academic pressure, as well as the adjustment to social expectations, through periodic group sessions, ongoing one on one counselling, and campus wide campaigns, initiatives and wellness drives that strengthen awareness and engagement around mental and emotional wellbeing.
Our Vision![[object Object]](/pages/disha/vision/vision-graphic.webp)
Our vision is to play a positive role in destigmatising mental health challenges and providing support to overcome social and emotional hurdles. We want conversations about mental health to be open and free from stigma, and for students, parents, educators and employees to feel that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Through awareness sessions, personal counselling and campus campaigns, Disha helps students, staff, employees and parents overcome challenges such as stress, homesickness, anxiety and relationship issues, giving them the tools, guidance and safe spaces they need to face life's hurdles with confidence, resilience and hope.
Disha has implemented a variety of campus wide initiatives to address vital areas of student wellbeing, each aimed at a specific, recognisable challenge that students commonly face.
Helps students cope with homesickness.
Encourages students to build healthy habits.
Supports students in managing social media use responsibly.
Encourages empathy and respect among students.
Normalises access to support and reduces stigma around asking for help.
Focuses on suicide prevention and the early identification of concerns.
Empower students to take charge of their own wellbeing.
At Narayana Schools, Disha is integrated into the school culture. It is a core part of how the institution cares for students, whether a child is facing a serious challenge or simply needs someone to listen.
Specially trained Development Coaches who understand the school environment.
Sessions that fit into the academic timetable without disruption.
Proactive engagement instead of waiting for problems to arise.
Strong collaboration between coaches, teachers and parents.
Since its launch, Disha has expanded from a few campuses to Narayana schools and colleges across 23 states, becoming one of the largest school based mental wellness programmes in the country.
awareness sessions conducted across campuses.
Students supported through individual, one on one interventions.
Parent awareness sessions and 190+ individual parent consultations conducted.
Disha is Narayana Schools' dedicated mental health and wellness initiative, offering professional counseling, workshops, and emotional support to students, staff, and parents.
Disha, meaning 'direction', reflects the program’s aim to guide students through the emotional and social challenges of growing up.
Development Coaches are trained counsellors who work with students, parents, and staff to promote mental wellness and provide support.
Disha offers individual and group counselling, parenting workshops, staff training, campus wellness drives, and a 24-hour student helpline to support emotional well-being.
Coaches assist with academic stress, exam anxiety, peer relations, self-esteem, adjustment to new environments, and general emotional well-being.
Key initiatives include Resilience Star (for homesickness), Challenge Champion (for healthy habits), SMAD (for social media balance), Bullying Prevention, Help Seeking Awareness, the PAUSE Programme (suicide prevention), and Self-Efficacy Workshops.
Yes, the Disha student helpline is a 100% toll-free service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Unlike traditional setups, Disha is integrated into the school’s daily culture, with specially trained coaches, flexible scheduling, proactive engagement, and strong collaboration between coaches, teachers, and parents.
Disha is a core part of Narayana’s commitment to whole child development. It works closely with academic teams to ensure that students can thrive emotionally while also achieving their educational goals.
