The Mental Health Festival 2026 will be held on 8 October 2026 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Auditorium, AIIMS, New Delhi, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. It is an annual event organised by the Mental Health Foundation. It is an annual event organised by the Mental Health Foundation (India) in collaboration with AIIMS, New Delhi, and brings together mental health professionals, students, researchers, artists, advocates and ordinary members of the community for a day devoted to open and honest discussions about mental health. This year’s theme is:
“Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”
The topic places lived experience right at the centre of the discussion. Rather than merely discussing mental health, the festival provides an opportunity for people to share their stories, listen to one another, and draw lessons from real and personal experiences. Since more than 1,000 people are expected to attend, the event will bring together students, teachers, researchers, professionals and the wider community.
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About Mental Health Foundation India
The Mental Health Festival India began in 2013 and has been organised jointly by the Mental Health Foundation (India) and the Department of Psychiatry at AIIMS, New Delhi. It originally started on a small scale as an Annual Mental Health Day Celebration, but by 2017 had developed into a much larger event: it had become the biggest mental health festival in the country, attracting mental health professionals, organisations and youth forums from colleges throughout India.
This year marks the festival’s 13th anniversary, and it continues to attract 1,000+ people each year; the event is not limited to sessions that involve only talking. It also includes art, movement, music, and a great deal of shared experience as part of the way people interact with mental wellbeing. The significant amount of this growth can be attributed to Dr Nand Kumar, who is both a Professor of Psychiatry at AIIMS New Delhi and the Nodal Officer for the festival.
He has always held the view that mental well-being cannot be achieved on one’s own but must be something that communities develop together; it is this belief that has led the festival to evolve from a single-day event into a more extensive, continuous movement. It now features various initiatives that take place throughout the year, such as Never Alone, an AI-powered mental health support platform, and Project MATE, a school programme designed to help young people develop resilience and emotional awareness from an early age.
Research Paper Presentation: A Stage for Emerging Voices
A major feature of this year’s festival is the Research Paper Presentation section, a type of platform that has been set up especially for undergraduate students and young researchers who are to present their work before an expert audience. The opportunity is open to all between the ages of 18 and 26, from undergraduate level onwards, such as undergraduates, postgraduates, MPhil/PhD candidates and early-career researchers; applications can be made individually.
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How the Selection Process Works
The process begins by submitting an abstract via an online Google Form; each abstract received is initially examined by a group of PhD students, the students assessing factors such as relevance, originality, the clarity with which the research objectives are stated, the methodology, and the overall contribution to the field. Five participants will be selected from all the submissions to give presentations at the festival. After being selected, they will have to send in their full research paper before the presentation. On that day, each of the shortlisted participants is given 5 to 10 minutes to present their research, after which there is a brief Q&A and discussion. The entire Research Paper Presentation section lasts approximately 40 minutes.
The Expert Panel
The presentations at the end will be assessed by a panel consisting of Mr Vineet Gairola, Mr Amit Pawar, Mr Arjun Gupta, Ms Aalapti Singh and a representative from Psychologs. The panel will consider such factors as the importance and relevance of the research, its originality, the methodology employed, the way in which the findings are analysed and interpreted, the conclusions reached, the quality of the presentation, and the confidence with which the participants answer questions.
Recognition for Participants
Certificates of participation or recognition will be awarded to all of the five shortlisted participants, and the research paper that has been selected will have the opportunity to be published in Psychologs Magazine, thus giving young researchers a chance to share their work with a wider audience than just the attendees of the festival.
Important Dates and Details
| Detail | Information |
| Initial submission | Abstract |
| Submission mode | Google Form |
| Last date to submit abstract | 7 September 2026 |
| Date of abstract approval | 11 September 2026 |
| Last date to submit full paper | 25 September 2026 |
| Number of shortlisted participants | 5 |
| Initial screening by | PhD scholars |
| Presentation time | 5–10 minutes per participant |
| Total segment duration | Approximately 40 minutes |
| Eligibility | 18–26 years; undergraduate students, postgraduate students MPhil/PhD scholars and early-career researchers |
The Research Paper Presentation segment reflects the spirit of Mental Health Festival India 2026 itself. The Research Paper Presentation segment creates space for voices, genuine curiosity and the belief that meaningful change begins when people are truly heard.
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