Media Release
Mangaluru, Oct 16: In observance of Mental Health Awareness Week, a special session on ‘Academic Stress and Mental Well-being’ was organised for the students of grade 10 at St Agnes School (CBSE), on October 16, in association with Lions International DIST 317D, Manomitram.
The initiative was aimed to foster awareness on maintaining emotional balance and developing healthy coping strategies among students.
The session commenced with a solemn prayer led by the students, invoking God’s blessings for wisdom and inner peace. The gathering was then warmly welcomed by teacher Daphne, who extended greetings to the participants and dignitaries.















The school was privileged to host Dr Rameela Shekhar, a renowned mental health professional, director of Mana Shanthi Counselling, training and research centre, and former professor and dean at Roshni Nilaya, Mangaluru, as the resource person for the day.
Dr Shekhar, who has conducted over 2,700 sessions on mental health, stress management, and family relationships, and is a recipient of the "Best Educationist Award" from the Global Society for Health and Education Growth, New Delhi, was welcomed florally by the vice principal, Sr Meena Fernandes AC while Lion Suresh, the programme coordinator of Manomitram, was also accorded a floral welcome.
Dr Rameela Shekhar, in her insightful address, engaged the students in an interactive and thought-provoking discussion on managing academic pressure. She emphasised that preparing for examinations requires not just diligence but also emotional stability and self-awareness.
Dr Shekhar advised students to plan their study schedules effectively, maintain a healthy balance between work and rest and seek help whenever stress feels overwhelming. She highlighted the importance of open communication with parents and peers and encouraged students to adopt healthy coping strategies, maintain perspective and seek support when needed.
The session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by teacher Sumana, who expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr Rameela Shekhar for conducting such an informative and impactful session.
The awareness initiative deepened the students’ understanding of mental health and reminded everyone of the importance of empathy, emotional resilience, and self-care in daily life, proving to be both enlightening and empowering as it left the students with valuable insights to manage.