Delhi Public School, Patna hosted Takshila ‘Mind Space’, an Inter-School Mental Health Summit, on 13 August 2026 on the theme “Mind Matters: Building Emotional Strength and Social Resilience.” The summit aimed to create awareness about mental health and encourage students to speak openly about emotions, relationships, empathy, stress and well-being. It provided a creative platform for students to explore mental health through art, literature, theatre, research, dialogue and quiz. The summit brought together 222 students from 14 schools, accompanied by 16 escort teachers. Eight events were organised across Junior (Classes VI–VIII) and Senior (Classes IX–XII) categories, transforming the school campus into a vibrant space for learning, creativity, expression and interaction. A special feature of the summit was the creative transformation of the campus. Students, under the guidance of the Art Department, created posters, paintings and mental-health-themed displays. In keeping with the school’s Zero Waste philosophy, discarded BenQ Interactive Panel boxes were creatively reused for decoration. The campus also incorporated Independence Day-themed displays, creating an interesting blend of emotional well-being, creativity and national spirit.

The summit was formally inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by the distinguished guests, judges and escort teachers. The School Choir presented prayer songs and the theme song, creating a reflective and positive beginning to the day. Student leadership played an important role in the smooth conduct of the summit. School Council members supported participants at various venues, assisted with coordination and guided students across the campus. Psychology students also contributed to the organisation and conducted “Trinayani EnAble: Disability Awareness Game Kit – Towards Inclusion.” Through interactive games and activities, participants explored concepts of empathy, accessibility, dignity and inclusion. The initiative expanded the summit’s focus from mental health to the broader idea of creating a more sensitive and inclusive society. The Junior Category included Mind Your Mind: Model Making, where students developed models around innovations for emotional well-being; Art for Awareness: Poster Making, based on “It’s Okay Not to be Okay”; Threads of Emotion: Poetry Composition and Recitation, themed “The Rainbow I Carry Within”; and The Unheard Stories: An Empathy Dialogue Challenge, which encouraged students to understand different emotional perspectives. The Senior Category featured Scholars for Serenity: Research Paper Presentation, themed “Mental Health in the Age of Social Media”; Fragments to Feelings: Collage Making, exploring emotions beyond the visible smile; ‘Khamoshi Ke Paar’: Nukkad Natak, based on “चुप्पी तोड़ो, मन को जोड़ो”; and Brainwaves: Mental Health Quiz, which tested students’ knowledge of psychology, mental health and human behaviour. The competitions were judged by a diverse panel comprising professionals from psychology, medicine, education, research, theatre and visual arts. The valedictory ceremony and prize distribution were held in the Multipurpose Hall. Winners received Certificates of Merit and specially designed trophies, while all participants received Certificates of Participation. Takshila ‘Mind Space’ 2026 went beyond being an inter-school competition. It created a meaningful space where students could express themselves, explore sensitive issues, practise empathy and engage with mental health in creative ways. The summit received positive feedback from students, teachers and judges for its relevant theme, innovative event formats and inclusive approach. It demonstrated the important role schools can play in creating an environment where mental health can be discussed openly, emotions are respected, differences are accepted and seeking support is viewed as a sign of strength.

Results