The Mental Health Wellness Collective (MHWC) project, undertaken by 8 fellows at Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, aims to promote mental health and well-being among the university's student community. The project is structured into three sub-projects: The Mental Health Counsellor Initiative, The Mental Health Club Initiative, and The Mental Health Seminar Initiative.

THE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELLOR INITIATIVE
On November 11, 2023, Millennium Fellows and Campus Directors Jeeri Sanjana Reddy and Jahnavi Gopaluni submitted a formal representation to the Vice Chancellor of the university, urging the provision of mental health counselling services on campus. The representation, supported by comprehensive research and data, emphasizes the challenges faced by students and the crucial need for professional mental health support. Specific requests include appointing a qualified counsellor for the campus, establishing a fully equipped counselling centre, and developing a comprehensive mental health policy. On 9 and 10 November 2023, prior approval was sought from the Dean of Academics and Registrar of the University as per the established administrative procedure.
Ultimately, the Vice Chancellor of the University agreed to implement the project and appoint a qualified psychologist who shall be available to provide counselling services to students from January 2024 (from the beginning of the new semester).

THE MENTAL HEALTH CLUB INITIATIVE
As a part of this initiative, Millennium Fellows Anushka Sharma, Jeevitha R and Shashwat Sinha are working on a mental health project. The goal was to establish a Mental Health Awareness Centre at our university.
In order for this to happen, on November 9, 2023, a formal representation to the Registrar of the University after seeking prior approval from the Dean of Academics as per the established administrative procedure was submitted. The Registrar forwarded the representation to the Vice-Chancellor of the University on the same date and an appointment with him was scheduled for November 14, 2023. During the meeting he read the whole proposition and agreed for setting up a Mental Health Awareness Centre at our University.
The proposition consisted of a permission letter signed by the fellows and attached with it was the data collected from the responses to a mental health survey conducted by us on October 10, 2023. Apart from the responses data related to mental health awareness centres in other National Law Universities was also attached like NLSIU, Bengaluru and NLU Delhi.

THE MENTAL HEALTH SEMINAR INITIATIVE
The Mental Health Seminar Initiative was conceived with the aim of fostering mental health awareness and education within the university. Recognizing the importance of knowledge dissemination, the initiative focused on organizing seminars that addressed various aspects of mental health, including stigma reduction, coping mechanisms, and building resilience. Millennium Fellows Sudha Bhuveswari, Eswar Thota, and Mukund Komaragiri together took the task of initiating a mental health seminar at our campus.
In alignment with this proactive approach, the Mental Health Seminar Initiative formal permission was sought from the university administration on November 15, 2023. The team engaged in a constructive dialogue during the review process. As fellows working on this eagerly await official approval, their dedication to fostering mental health awareness through impactful seminars remains unwavering.

The Mental Health Wellness Collective (MHWC) project has made significant impact in addressing mental health concerns at Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University. The structured approach, backed by thorough research and surveys reflects the collective commitment of the fellows.
The project will have impact on the diverse student population and the dedicated post-fellowship action plan will contribute in furtherance of the initiative. As fellows continue their efforts, the MHWC shall remain instrumental in creating a supportive campus environment that prioritizes the well-being of every student even after conclusion of fellowship.