UNARVU: Awakening young minds in Wayanad

In the serene yet disaster scarred landscapes of Wayanad, where communities continue rebuilding their lives after repeated landslides and climate driven crises, a quiet transformation is unfolding inside school classrooms. Unarvu, meaning awakening, is a pioneering school level psycho social and mental health support initiative launched by Wayanad Social Service Society, the official social welfare and development arm of the Diocese of Mananthavady. Emerging from the broader Safe Within Reconnect Wayanad and Vilangad project supported by Caritas India, the initiative is built on a simple but powerful truth. Healing and resilience must begin with children.

Kerala, often celebrated for its social development achievements and high literacy rate, is not untouched by rising mental health concerns. National surveys indicate that nearly one in ten adolescents in India experience emotional or behavioural difficulties. Kerala reports comparatively higher levels of stress, anxiety, and depression among young people. In districts such as Wayanad, where families have endured landslides, displacement, and the loss of livelihoods, children carry trauma in ways that are not always visible.

Teachers have increasingly observed signs of anxiety, fear, difficulty concentrating, behavioural changes, and declining self confidence among students. While early psycho social interventions largely focused on affected adults and households, Wayanad Social Service Society soon realised that children too were silently carrying emotional burdens that could affect their development, academic progress, and overall well being.

The psycho social component became a central pillar of the Safe Within project, strongly recommended by community stakeholders after the devastating landslides in Wayanad and Vilangad. With technical guidance and training support from premier institutions such as National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences and Schizophrenia Research Foundation, more than one hundred befriending volunteers were trained to deliver structured psycho social support at the grassroots level.

These volunteers began reaching households and individuals through empathetic, community based interventions. Yet sustained engagement revealed a critical gap. Emotional support was equally necessary within schools.

From this need emerged Unarvu, a comprehensive school based psycho social care programme currently reaching twenty schools across the panchayats of Edavaka, Padinjarethara, Meppady, Thavinjal, and Mananthavady Municipality. The initiative now engages nearly 10,000 students.

Schools were selected through consultations with local panchayat representatives, with priority given to disaster affected communities where children required urgent emotional support.

Fr Jinoj Palathadathil, Executive Director of Wayanad Social Service Society, explains the reasoning behind the initiative. “Schools located in vulnerable areas are deeply affected when disasters strike families. In such situations emotional well being and happiness are not luxuries. They are essential for children to grow and learn.”

Unarvu is grounded in the belief that mental health is as important as academic success. Childhood and adolescence are critical stages when emotional experiences shape identity, relationships, and future aspirations. Without timely support, stress and trauma can lead to declining academic performance, social withdrawal, behavioural challenges, and long term psychological difficulties.

In Kerala’s increasingly competitive education system, academic pressure and digital exposure further intensify emotional stress. Recognising this reality, Unarvu focuses on building resilience, self confidence, and emotional awareness among students at an early age.

The programme follows a carefully designed participatory approach. It begins with consultations with school authorities where the concept and objectives are introduced. A School Disaster Management Committee is then formed within each school. The committee includes student leaders, teachers, parents, and representatives of the grama panchayat, along with professionals from the police station, fire station, and local hospital. This structure ensures that the initiative becomes an integral part of the school ecosystem rather than an external intervention.

A one day interaction programme follows. Through games, psycho social learning sessions, emotional awareness discussions, and group activities, students are encouraged to express their thoughts and connect with peers. Counselling sessions for students, parents, and teachers further strengthen the support system. These sessions are designed as safe spaces where students feel heard, valued, and understood.

Another important feature of Unarvu is the formation of student volunteer groups in each school. These peer support networks continue the effort even after the formal sessions conclude. Monthly follow up programmes reinforce learning, track progress, and sustain emotional resilience among students.

P A Jose, Programme Officer at Wayanad Social Service Society, highlights the focus on sustainability. “In every school we create a team of teachers and students who continue the initiative even after our direct involvement ends. This ensures long term impact.”

Headmasters and parent-teacher association members play an active role in strengthening ownership and continuity. The impact is already visible. Teachers report increased student participation, healthier peer relationships, and greater emotional awareness inside classrooms. During the programme launch at GLPS Makkimala, student representative Amalya David shared her thoughts.

“Mental health and emotional growth are important during childhood. The efforts of WSSS in supporting children during their learning journey are truly commendable.” Her words reflect the spirit of Unarvu. The initiative does not merely respond to trauma. It nurtures confidence, hope, and hidden potential among young minds.

Today Unarvu stands as a model of community rooted psycho social resilience in Kerala. By connecting professional mental health expertise, trained volunteers, school systems, parish networks, and panchayat institutions, the programme has created a multi layered support structure for children.

More than a programme, it has become a movement to integrate emotional well being into the education system.

Across the hills of Wayanad, healing is no longer confined to homes. It has entered classrooms. Through Unarvu, nearly 10,000 children are discovering confidence, resilience, and the courage to face adversity.