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Our Story
Mental health has always been an integral part of who I am. Ever since I was a child, my mother, a clinical psychologist, would emphasise on how important it is to take care of your mental well- being. "Mental health," she would say, "is as, if not more, important than physical health. I always brushed these pearls of wisdom off as "mom talk" until the day I started teaching spoken English in a government school in Mumbai.
Entering the class, I was pleasantly surprised to see a large group of 50 children, all ready and eager to learn. However, they were restless and agitated and ever so often, one of them would run up to me, sobbing relentlessly, complaining that the others were teasing him/her. My heart went out to them; I understood where they were coming from, so I diverted from the day's regular session to speak to them a little about mental health.
To my shock, none of them were even aware of the concept, forget knowing how important it is to take care of one's mental health. So I started from the very basics, explaining to them how just like we take care of our bodies by eating healthy food and getting enough sleep, our minds also need to be taken care of. They were quick to grasp the concept, and I was glad to have introduced such a vital part of human experience to them.
As I lay in bed that night, all I could think about was how we, as privileged human beings, have access to whatever resources we require to take care of our mental health, whereas these young children haven't the slightest idea what mental health is even about! I wondered about how they must be coping with their feelings, feelings of anger, stress and loneliness, all of which are a part of growing up.
Feeling inspired by a mental health program unique to my school, the JAM (Jamnabai Adolescent Mentor) Program, of which I am a part, I vowed to make a difference and came up with the idea of The YANA Community to show these children that they are indeed, not alone. Our aim is to cultivate a nurturing environment in which children are given a platform where they are able to express how they feel without fear. YANA is more than a community; it's a vibrant tapestry of shared aspirations and shared humanity.
Made by: Nysa Jain, Founder of The YANA Community
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