Archive · 20 Nov 2025
Indian Students' Mental Health: Fear of Disappointing Others
A survey found that Indian students are very anxious, like kids in other countries.
But Indian kids worry more about letting others down, not being too hard on themselves.
A helpful app called Give Me Five is trying to make it easier to talk about mental health and find help when needed.
Give Me Five (GM5) survey reveals Indian students' mental health patterns mirror global trends
Indian students uniquely worry about disappointing others, not self-criticism
External validation and societal pressure amplify anxiety among Indian children
GM5 platform offers scalable, personal mental health screening tools for early detection
App aims to normalize mental health dialogue, reduce stigma, and engage users through gamification
- Who
- Indian students, particularly in Telangana and Karnataka
- What
- Experiencing anxiety, sleep disruption, and stress, with a unique concern about disappointing others
- When
- Currently, with ongoing surveys and app development
- Where
- India, with a focus on Telangana and Karnataka, and plans to expand across states
- Why
- To understand and address mental health challenges among Indian students, using digital tools to make early detection and support more accessible
Internal Pressure
External Pressure
Self-criticism
Internal Pressure
Present in other countries
External Pressure
Less resonating with Indian students
- Survey Name
- Give Me Five (GM5) survey
- Founder and CEO
- Dr. Lisa Fahey OAM
- Survey Participants
- 5,000 students in Telangana and Karnataka
- App Name
- Give Me Five (GM5) platform
- App Features
- Screening tools, goal setting, wellness check-ins, chat options, gamification
- App Goal
- Normalize mental health dialogue, reduce stigma, and provide early support