Tekion has partnered with NGO ‘Mind and Matter’ to positively impact over 10,000 students in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu this year. | Photo credit: Murali Kumar K.
With the need to promote individual and community mental health among school and college students, ‘Tekion’, a native automotive AI platform, has partnered with NGO ‘Mind and Matter’ to positively impact over 10,000 students in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu this year.
Under the CSR umbrella of ‘Tekion for Good’, the partnership aims to remove the stigma surrounding mental well-being by making high-quality mental health resources available to disadvantaged communities in semi-urban and rural areas. “We need to normalize mental health as a fundamental part of our social fabric,” said Deepika Appaiah, founder of Mind and Matter.
According to the report, the program targets children (9+ years), teenagers, parents and teachers in both government and private educational institutions. A key feature that sets this initiative apart is its grassroots approach, providing activity-based sessions and mental health tools in regional languages to ensure that no one is left behind due to the language barrier. The curriculum uses specialized modules developed by NIMHANS, delivered by trained volunteers to promote safe spaces and compassionate support systems in schools.
“Mental health is often viewed through the lens of the urban elite, but resilience is a universal need,” noted Santosh Golecha, Head of Chennai Engineering Center, Tekion. “These meetings are not just about awareness. It’s about giving the next generation the tools to build a healthy and balanced future,” he noted.
The program will also focus on building a strong volunteer ecosystem to sustain long-term mental health awareness and support. These activity-based sessions are designed to make conversations about emotions, empathy, communication and well-being accessible to young people and educators alike. The first mental well-being program for schools and colleges under this partnership was held at Sir Mutha School in Chennai, with about 180 students participating, the report said.
In addition to teaching, Tekion also supports the expansion of the “Mental Health Sundays” program organized by Mind and Matter in various Indian cities. This inclusive community initiative will now expand its footprint in Chennai, Puducherry and Bengaluru and offer resilience-building workshops for all age groups in public spaces, the report said.
According to the report, Mind and Matter has impacted more than 27,000 lives over the past five years through mental health advocacy and the implementation of mental health prevention modules.
Their recent “Music for Mental Health” initiative has received national recognition for its innovative and universal approach to wellness in major regions.
Published – 13 March 2026 04:48 IST
