How I Came Across This Cause

During my content writing internship at WeDidIt — an experience I still call the best content writing internship out there — I learned about powerful initiatives driven by the organization’s founder, Sree Krishna Seelam. One of these is Middlemen.asia, which works at the intersection of law, social reform, and advocacy.

It was here that I came across a petition that instantly struck a chord with me: “India: The Suicide Capital of the World — Mandate Mental Health Education in Schools.” This petition, filed by Sree Krishna Seelam himself, isn’t just about policy — it’s about saving lives, changing the future, and giving our youth the tools to cope with life’s challenges.

The Issue: Breaking the Silence

Every 3 minutes, India loses a life to suicide.
That’s 468 lives every single day — 1.71 lakh people every year — making India the suicide capital of the world.

Behind these numbers are real people: children, parents, friends who felt unseen, unheard, and unsupported. Of the 150 million Indians who need mental health care, only 30 million receive it. The rest fight their battles alone, hidden under stigma and silence.

Why This Petition Matters

The petition calls upon the Supreme Court of India to make mental health education a compulsory subject in schools from the first standard. Why start so early? Because a child’s brain develops critical emotional and social skills at a young age — and that’s the ideal time to build resilience, empathy, and healthy coping mechanisms.

Imagine an India where:

1. Children understand and manage their emotions from an early age.

2. Families are spared the pain of losing a loved one to untreated mental illness.

3. Crime rates drop, because the underlying mental health issues are addressed early.

Research shows that 95% of crimes are linked to untreated mental health problems. Early education could be a turning point in both public safety and individual well-being.

Backed by Advocacy and Education

This movement is supported by Middlemen.asia and the WeDidIt Foundation. Alongside the petition, Sree Krishna Seelam has authored PIL: Power, Purpose, and People’s Rights: A Common Man’s Guide to Filing a Public Interest Litigation in India (Middlemen.asia). This book demystifies how ordinary citizens can use PILs to create real, systemic change — just as he’s doing with mental health education.

He has also written Misunderstood: A Guide to Mental Health, which sheds light on the stigma surrounding mental illness and offers practical steps toward healing and awareness. These resources are not just informative — they’re fuel for a movement.

The Numbers We Cannot Ignore

• Suicide Rate: India’s age-adjusted suicide rate is 21.1 per 100,000 population — the highest in the world (WHO).

• Economic Impact: Mental health issues are projected to cost India USD 1.03 trillion by 2030 due to lost productivity.

• Treatment Gap: 80% of those needing care remain untreated (National Mental Health Survey).

What You Can Do Today

This movement aims to gather 1 million signatures before filing the PIL. Your voice matters — every signature builds the case, strengthens the cause, and sends a message that we refuse to let mental health remain a silent crisis.

Here’s how you can help:

1. Sign the Petition — It takes less than 10 seconds to stand for a cause that could save thousands of lives.

2. Share Widely — Post it on your social media, send it to friends and family, talk about it in your circles.

3. Join the Conversation — Read and recommend books like PIL: Power, Purpose, and People’s Rights and Misunderstood: A Common Man’s Guide to filing a Public Interest Litigation in India to inspire more people to engage.

Final Thoughts

This is more than just a petition, it’s a chance to change the future of our country. It’s about ensuring that no child grows up without the emotional tools to navigate life. It’s about preventing grief before it begins. And it’s about creating an India that leads the world in compassion, resilience, and mental health awareness.

Let’s break the silence. Let’s act now.
Sign the Petition — because every signature is a step toward a safer, stronger, and more empathetic India.