METROPOLIS

Campus-based peer-support for university students

Student life can be exciting - full of possibilities, learning and friendships. But it can also feel overwhelming, stressful and lonely.

This is where we come in.

METROPOLIS is a Wellcome Trust-funded research programme that aims to bring low-cost, easily accessible mental health support to university students in Delhi/NCR. Our campus-based programme is called ‘Saathi Support’, is a free peer support programme for students who are going through a tough time and feeling low. We pair trained peer supporters (Saathis) with students seeking support.

Why METROPOLIS?

Mental health problems like depression are common among university students. METROPOLIS (Mechanistic Trial of Problem Solving and Behavioural Activation for Depression) is a four-year research programme (2024-2027) through which we are designing, delivering and evaluating low-cost, peer-led interventions that could improve student mental health in India and beyond. We use problem-solving, behavioural activation and study skills to support young people with depression

Context

More than 280 million people worldwide are living with depression. It can affect people of all ages, and research has shown that university students have high rates of mental health problems. Depression can impact all aspects of a student’s life – from academic studies to work to relationships. It often occurs alongside other mental health problems, especially anxiety, and can also increase the risk of self-harm and suicide. India, where this programme is being implemented, is home to 20% of the world’s youth, including one of the largest growing student populations globally. Care needs greatly outstrip existing service capacity, resulting in a large treatment gap of >90%. We envision that the interventions arising from the METROPOLIS programme may offer a sustainable path towards the goal of rapidly scalable, low-cost strategies to reduce youth depression in countries like India and globally.