The Hindu Huddle on Campus | Being there for a friend in mental distress is important, say students

The Hindu Huddle on Campus, VIT Chennai | Students in conversation with Zubeda Hamid, Senior Assistant Editor, The Hindu, on mental health, at VIT Chennai, on Monday
| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj

How connected are students with each other? Do they look out for their friends? What happens if they have a mental health issue?  

At The Hindu Huddle on Campus: India in Dialogue, held at VIT Chennai on Monday (May 5, 2025), students emphasised the importance of staying connected with their friends in real time. “We should make it a point to ask our friends if they are doing okay,” said Sruthi Jain, a final-year law student, setting the stage for a discussion on a range of issues — many of them revolving around social media, which occupies much of young people’s time and attention.

She called for an open discussion on mental health by breaking taboos around the subject for the benefit of all.

Shreya S. Shirol, a first-year engineering student, suggested that when a friend or a classmate expresses distress or unhappiness, they should not be pushed away. Effort must be made to understand them and speak to them. It would help identify and spot the signs of what the friend is going through, she said.

The conversation was moderated by Zubeda Hamid, Senior Assistant Editor, The Hindu.  

Content shared through social media had an important role to play, said Carolyn Nirmala P., a final-year law student. Often, people rely social media for self-diagnosis, instead of seeking professional help. She pointed out that the seclusion of the (COVID-19) pandemic left many people struggling with mental health issues. She felt the content on social media was responsible for this too.

Suseema Devi K.R., a final-year law student, said students grappled with many issues. She gave an analogy of biriyani, which is a mix of spices and ingredients, calling for a need to develop healthy interpersonal relations.  

The panellists were emphatic that a person’s mental equilibrium depends on the messages they take away from social media posts, noting that it requires a certain level of mental maturity. Just as people focus on physical health, they should also ensure their mental well-being, they pointed out.

Concerns such as work stress, gender, and disability causing mental health issues, lack of finding the right therapy at the right time, and the high cost of psychotherapy or psychiatric help were also among the topics discussed.