IBChangemakers: How this Apeejayite talked about stress & anxiety

Meet Ada Bharati, a bright MYP-5 student from Apeejay’s IB School, Apeejay School International, Panchsheel Park. Passionate about the arts, Ada plays the violin and has recently developed a keen interest in Kathak dance. Alongside her artistic pursuits, she chose to dedicate her Service as Action (SAA) project to an issue close to the lives of many students — mental health, with a focus on stress and anxiety.  

What made you take up mental health for SAA? 
I was going through various options, and mental health caught my attention since I had worked on it before. This time, I decided to take up another branch of it, focusing mainly on stress and anxiety. 

Could you briefly describe your project on mental health?
My project was focused on researching stress in students’ lives. I wanted to explore how stress impacts them and how they can cope with it.

Who was your target audience or beneficiaries for this project?
High school students and their parents.

Did you collaborate with any organisations, mentors, or peers to raise awareness?
I spread awareness within the Apeejay School community by designing and distributing informative brochures and posters. These served as simple yet effective tools to reach out to both students and parents, encouraging conversations around stress and mental health.

Did you receive any mentorship or guidance from the school?
Yes, the school counsellor supported me. Since mental health is a sensitive topic, she guided me to ensure that my project remained unbiased. 

How did this project impact you personally?
This project gave me a much deeper understanding of what stress really is and how it affects students like me. I also learned about different coping mechanisms, which I could personally apply. Since I often feel anxious before exams, practicing these techniques really helped me manage the pressure and stay more balanced.

How did you conduct your research? Any specific tools or sources?
I referred to case studies, extracts from psychology books, and also conducted an interview with a project coordinator at TeleManas, a government mental health helpline. That gave me valuable insights. 

Which IB learner profile attributes did you develop through this project?
I believe I developed being balanced and also a principled approach through this work.

What advice would you give to other IB students choosing their SAA projects, especially on sensitive topics like mental health?
I would advise them to think on a bigger scale. Just making brochures may not reach many people. They should plan broader initiatives for better impact.