They Seem Fine… But Are They Really?

Every year, schools across India gather students for the usual health checkup. A nurse checks height and weight. A dentist looks for cavities. Eyes are tested. It's a routine everyone expects. Parents nod approvingly, schools tick off reports, and children go back to class.

But what about the invisible kind of health?

What about the child who looks fine but wakes up every morning wishing they didn’t have to face another day? The one who feels they will never be good enough. The one who has learned to smile on the outside, while carrying heartbreak inside.

Depression, anxiety, self-harm, even suicidal thoughts. These are not adult problems anymore. They are part of the growing emotional burden our students carry. And yet, while we check blood pressure and eyesight, we rarely check in on their minds.

It is not just a missed opportunity. It is a dangerous gap.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, in 2021, 13,089 students died by suicide in India, up from 12,526 in 2020. That number rose to 13,044 in 2022, even as overall suicides climbed to 170,924. Student suicides accounted for 7.6 percent of total suicides in 2022.  Behind those numbers are classrooms that did not know. Friends who didn’t see it coming. Parents who never got a chance to help.

But here’s the good news. Change is possible. And it can begin right inside the school gates.

A Checkup That Goes Beyond the Surface

In a few schools in Delhi, a different kind of checkup has quietly been making waves. As part of the TeenBook Student Mental Well-Being Program, students in Grade 8 were asked simple questions. These were not questions about academics or attendance. They were about feelings.

Do you often feel low?Do you ever think about hurting yourself?Do you feel safe at school and at home?

What followed was eye-opening.

In one round of screening across 28 low-fee private schools in Delhi, nearly 900 students were assessed. More than one in four said they had experienced suicidal thoughts. A fifth of them needed urgent support. Some felt angry and frustrated all the time. Some had completely stopped enjoying anything.

The most striking part? Many of these children had never told anyone. Not a parent. Not a teacher. Not even a friend.

They were waiting to be asked.

What Happened Next Was Just as Important

During the well-being screenings, students flagged as high-risk were invited for one-on-one sessions with trained counselors. These were calm, private conversations where children could finally talk without fear of being judged or punished. For many, it was the first time someone had truly listened.

Parents were brought in with care and sensitivity. In one case, a mother initially reacted with disbelief. Her son seemed cheerful. He never complained. Why would he need help? But after a conversation, she began to see small signs she had missed.

In another case, a father who usually scolded his son over poor grades started responding with patience. One changed sentence, spoken with care instead of anger, became the start of healing.

Two stories that stand out are those of Reyansh and Sahil. You can read what happened to them here and here. Their experiences show how life-changing these checkups can be.

More Than Just Screenings

The program did not stop at identifying distress. It helped students learn how to cope. Thousands of children in Delhi and Bihar attended group workshops where they explored topics like emotional well-being, exam stress, peer pressure, and handling comparisons with friends and siblings.

They learned simple tools, breathing exercises, journaling, study breaks, and how to open up to someone they trust. More than 80 percent of the students said they now felt more in control of their emotions.

One student shared how she had started painting, taking breaks from studies, and even talking to her parents more openly. “Now I feel I can take care of myself,” she said.

Parents and Teachers Needed Help Too

The program understood that supporting a child’s mental health means guiding the adults in their lives too.

Over 1,900 parents joined the workshops. Many admitted they had never thought about mental health before. For some, it was the first time they paused to ask their child, “Are you okay?”

Teachers were also trained to understand emotional red flags and offer support. Many said this was their first experience learning how to respond to a child in distress. One principal said the sessions made her staff more patient and kinder. “We now understand that teaching is not just about lessons. It is about care,” she said.

A Call for Every School

Most schools already conduct annual health checkups. Why not add mental well-being to that checklist?

A simple screening, a few training sessions, and a willingness to talk can change lives. No school needs to do it all alone. What matters is starting the conversation. Making it okay for students to say they are not okay.

Because mental health and well-being is not a side issue. It is the foundation for learning, growth, and happiness.

Every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and supported, not just in textbooks, but in real life.

If you are a school leader, educator, or parent, now is the time to act. Ask the questions. Start the checkups. Open the door to healing.

It only takes one person to listen.

And that might be the moment a child finally says, “I’m glad you asked.”