Latest news with #IC3Movement
India Today
4 days ago
- Lifestyle
- India Today
Graduated, but going nowhere: Inside the quarter-life crisis of young adults
When the convocation caps land and the applause die down, many graduates are left not with a dream job but a blank Sood didn't expect that. She thought her journalism degree would lead her straight into a newsroom. She worked hard, earned the degree with distinction, and believed her journey was just beginning. Instead, she found herself stuck. Not unemployed, but rather wasn't sure what I was even looking for. Everyone had moved on. I was still figuring out what I wanted,' says the 22-year-old Delhi-based woman. She's far from alone. We've long heard of the midlife crisis. But what about the one that creeps in quietly at 22? When the world, once mapped out by syllabus and semesters, turns into a maze?Aditya Mishra felt that too. As the only child in a middle-class family, he did what was expected: he pursued engineering. A job followed, as it 24, he was working at a Bengaluru tech firm, meeting deadlines and drawing a steady pay cheque. But his phone told another story. Pages of poetry, story drafts, and unspoken feelings had been typed into his Notes app.'I didn't hate my job,' he remarks. 'But it didn't feel like mine. I kept if I chose wrong?' This feeling of neither failure nor fulfilment is where many quarter-life crises begin. It's not dramatic. It's slow, often silent. A steady disconnect between what you're doing and who you're becoming. According to Gaurav Tyagi, founder of Career Xpert, 'The mismatch between what graduates expect and what life offers can trigger serious self-doubt. The lack of direction after years of guided structure feels like personal failure to many.'It's not just about jobs. It's about identity. And it happens even when you're trying different Kaur explored teaching, freelancing, yoga, and even psychology. Each path taught her something, but none gave her a single answer. 'People kept asking, 'What do you do? I didn't know. It made me feel behind,' says the 20-year-old from a culture wired for linear success, even curiosity can feel like a flaw.'Our system rewards straight-line careers like engineering, MBAs, and corporate climb," notes Toprankers Co-founder Karan Mehta. "Many young adults find themselves at a crossroads, unsure if their path aligns with who they are. But real growth is often messy. And that's okay.'So they drift. From internships to online courses. From corporate gigs to creative side hustles. Waiting for something, anything, to click. Sometimes it does. Often, it takes longer.'What young adults need isn't a fixed plan,' says Tyagi. 'They need space. Counselling, journaling, taking time off—all of it helps build clarity. We must normalise uncertainty.'advertisementThere's also pressure. The silent timer that starts the day you graduate. But few are taught how to navigate the quarter-life crisis. IC3 Movement Founder Ganesh Kohli puts it bluntly: 'We focus so much on performance, we forget purpose. Schools must prioritise emotional well-being and guidance. That's how we raise grounded, resilient adults.'Simran is now freelancing. Aditya writes anonymously on a blog. Mehak is creating her path, slowly and honestly. None of them is 'sorted.' But maybe that's not the point. They're learning that careers aren't ladders but trails. They can curve, loop, or start over. And they still count.'The right direction doesn't come from rushing,' says Topranker's Karan Mehta. 'It comes from reflection. It takes time.'The hardest part? Thinking you're the only one lost. But you're not. So if your degree doesn't match your direction, take a breath. You're not late. You're not behind. You're just becoming. And that's a beginning in itself.- Article written by Yuvraj Dutta- Ends
India Today
11-05-2025
- Health
- India Today
Are mothers the missing link in children's mental health support?
Over the past few years, children have faced a world of change-a global pandemic, growing mental health challenges, academic uncertainties, and shifts in the education landscape, from exam cancellations to changing opportunities abroad. Through it all, one constant source of strength and support has stood tall: OUR this Mother's Day, we have more than just appreciation to offer, we have a renewed understanding of the critical role mothers play that often goes unnoticed. For decades, mothers have been quietly fulfilling the role of emotional first responders, serving as the first line of defence against their children's stress, anxiety, and academic pressure. Put simply, mothers often serve as informal mental health Kohli, Founder of the IC3 Movement, highlights the urgent need to recognise and empower mothers as mental health first responders. This Mother's Day, he calls for equipping them with the right tools to support children's emotional well-being. Research shows that in low- and middle-income countries, up to 80% of mental health care for children is provided informally, often by mothers or female caregivers. This is especially true in communities with limited access to trained professionals (UNICEF Innocenti Research Brief, 2020).RECOGNISING MOTHERS AS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST RESPONDERSAs we mark Mental Health Awareness Week alongside Mother's Day, we must broaden our perspective. Mothers are not just caregivers, they are critical stakeholders in the mental well-being of their are often the first to notice changes in sleep patterns, eating habits, or mood, well before teachers or counsellors can. According to the NIMHANS School Mental Health Report, 81% of Indian school students report academic stress, and mothers are typically the first to observe these early warning proximity alone isn't truly support children, we must empower mothers with skills, language, and partnerships. Mental health support cannot be instinctive alone, it must be informed, intentional, and integrated into everyday TRAINING FOR MOTHERS At IC3, our Student Suicide Aversion Task Force underscores the need to move from reactive to preventive strategies. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death amongst Indian youth, and while mothers are often the first to sense distress, they're rarely equipped to take the next Training, similar to first aid, but for mental health, is one of the most impactful tools we can offer. Frameworks like QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) or SafeTALK empower individuals to recognise red flags and respond with empathy, not panic. For mothers, this means learning to listen actively, de-escalate tension, and seeking professional support at the right the power of a mother confidently responding to her child's whisper of "I feel overwhelmed" with understanding, guidance, and a clear path to the gap to research by IC3's Counselling Lab, only 36% of mothers can correctly identify signs of clinical depression or anxiety. Mental health literacy is not a luxury, it is a NOT ISOLATIONadvertisementMental health cannot be addressed in isolation. At the core of the IC3 Institute's counseling philosophy lies the Decision Circle, a collaborative model placing the student, parent, and school at the centre of all support. When mothers, educators, and counselors work together, the outcomes are stronger, earlier, and more urge schools to see mothers not just as participants, but as partners. Co-led counseling sessions, regular check-ins, and collaborative workshops can create an ecosystem where mothers feel heard and empowered, and children feel is especially critical for adolescent girls, who, as IC3 research shows, often hesitate to express emotional distress due to fear of judgment or SPACES, SHARED RESPONSIBILITYSupporting mothers also means creating environments, at home and in schools, where vulnerability is not punished, but welcomed. When mothers model openness and emotional expression, children learn that it's okay to speak up, to feel, and to seek can bolster this effort through peer support groups, creative outlets like art or theatre, and wellness programs that encourage emotional literacy. Emotional outlets are no longer optional-they are SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORTEquipping mothers must be a part of larger systemic change. IC3 advocates for national and school-level policies prioritizing student well-being as much as academic performance. This includes:Strengthening school counseling departmentsMandating teacher training on mental healthPartnering with expert organisations like SPIFCreating wellness helplines and anonymous student platformsEncouraging mother-led community wellness circlesThese strategies are scalable, cost-effective, and proven to make a difference.----Let this Mother's Day be a turning point. Let's move beyond flowers and thank-you notes to real, structural support. Let's recognise the silent labour mothers perform every day, observing, absorbing, supporting, and give them the tools to do so even when we support mothers, we support the frontlines of our children's emotional lives. And when mothers are empowered, children are not just protected - they are prepared, understood, and Reel
