Second training of community workers under Jagruti II
A two-day training for community workers at the DST office, Aundh, on 5–6 June 2026, including feedback on the summer camps.
Mental health
Building mental health resources from within the community — in the urban poverty pockets of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad.
Why DST works on mental health
Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence to adulthood. Many people do not obtain the care they need because of ignorance and the stigma connected with mental health, and mental health professionals are very few in number. Climate change adds to the burden: floods, droughts and heat waves lead to anxiety and helplessness, and the poor and marginalised have the fewest resources to protect themselves.
On this backdrop DST started the Jagruti project with Vidula Psychological Consultancy Services (July 2023 – March 2024), training women from the community in Dapodi and Ramtekdi as mental health volunteers. Jagruti II now works with children and adolescents aged 8–14 and their families in Dapodi and Juni Sangvi (PCMC) — on emotions, self-awareness, and the responsible use of mobile phones and social media.
What the programme aims to do
- Train women from the community to become mental health volunteers.
- Equip volunteers with practical techniques to screen for and prevent mental illness.
- Understand the severity of psychological symptoms, distress and disorders in the community.
- Increase sensitivity and awareness about mental health through community leaders and community based organisations.
- Help children and adolescents manage emotions and reduce excessive use of mobile phones and social media.
Recent activities
- June 2026
Second training of community workers, Jagruti II
Review of the summer camps and sessions on personal hygiene and self-awareness.
- May 2026
Summer camps in Juni Sangvi and Dapodi
Origami, yoga, storytelling, wildlife and drawing sessions for children aged 8–14.
- April 2026
Capacity building for community workers
Two days on emotions, anger, facilitation skills and ethics in community work.
- February 2026
Project orientation for new community workers
Mental health awareness and responsible use of mobile phones and social media.
- November 2025
Awareness programme for women’s groups
Mental health, counselling and healthy screen use, at S.M. Joshi Hall, Pune.
- 2023–24
Jagruti project
15 Jagruti workers trained in Dapodi and Ramtekdi with Vidula Psychological Consultancy Services.
Photos from the field
Summer camps for children, Jagruti II 3 photos
Community workers’ orientation on mental health 5 photos
News from this programme
Press note: Summer camps by Development Support Team (DST)
Two summer camps for children aged 8–14 in Juni Sangvi and Dapodi, Pune, to help them stay away from mobile addiction — 13–15 and 20–22 May 2026.
Summer camp for 65 children in Old Sangvi
A three-day summer camp for children aged 8–14 under the Mental Health – Jagruti II project, 13–15 May 2026.
Capacity building on mental health for community workers
A two-day training on 8–9 April 2026 for community workers who run sessions with children and adolescents in Dapodi and Juni Sangvi.
Community workers’ orientation cum capacity building programme on mental health
Development Support Team organised an orientation cum capacity building programme on mental health on 11–12 February at DST’s office, Anand Park, Aundh, Pune.
Mental health awareness programme for women’s groups
44 participants from urban communities of Pune attended a half-day awareness programme at S.M. Joshi Hall on 21 November 2025.
Reports from this programme
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Press note: Summer camps by Development Support Team (DST)
Two summer camps in Juni Sangvi and Dapodi, 13–15 and 20–22 May 2026 (Marathi).
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Summer camp for children, Old Sangvi — 13–15 May 2026
A three-day camp for 65 children aged 8–14 under the Jagruti II project.
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Community workers’ training — project orientation and capacity building on mental health, 11–12 February 2026
Adolescent mental health awareness in urban communities of Pune city (PCMC — Sangvi and Dapodi).
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Mental health awareness programme — 21 November 2025
Half-day programme for women from urban communities supported by SWDF, Pune.
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DST study on excessive use of mobile phones
Focus group discussions and interviews with adolescents in Pimpri and Sangvi.
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Report of the ‘Jagruti’ project on mental health, 2023–24
Training community women as mental health volunteers in Dapodi and Ramtekdi, Pune, with Vidula Psychological Consultancy Services (July 2023 – March 2024).
Help us reach more families
Your support helps train community workers and run sessions for children and their parents.
