It's OK To Talk

Overview

It’s Ok To Talk was launched in India in 2017 as a web-based platform, complemented by community-based public engagement activities, to provide a supportive digital space for youth—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—to proactively address mental health challenges. Co-designed with young people aged 15-24, the platform features a bilingual (English and Hindi) digital library of personal stories from individuals who have experienced mental health struggles, with visitors encouraged to contribute their own stories to further enrich the content. In 2022, It’s Ok To Talk was re-conceptualized as an open-access intervention for youth aged 16-24, targeting those dealing with depression and anxiety in schools, universities, and online spaces. The program leverages sharing of lived experience narratives, the arts, and digital media across a variety of initiatives. 

These include:

• It’s Ok To Talk: A campaign and website platform to build awareness about mental health through narratives of young people. www.itsoktotalk.in

• Mann Mela: A multimedia web museum of young people’s stories, videos, and psychoeducation materials. www.mannmela.in

• DIYouth Advocacy: A do-it-yourself toolkit created with youth and aimed at empowering youth to advocate for mental health rights. www.diyouthadvocacy.in

• Outlive: A suicide prevention program for young people through awareness building, peer support, and advocacy training. www.outlive.in 

• Baatcheet: A research program to develop a web-based storytelling intervention to reduce anxiety, depression, and social disability among youth. 

Rationale

India has the world’s largest population of 16-24-year-olds and mental ill-health is the leading health concern for this group, causing distress and disruption to education, employment and community participation. These impacts have far-reaching implications in a country where youth productivity drives social and economic growth. Fewer than 10% of youth with common mental health problems (anxiety and depression) can access care due to resource constraints and demand-side barriers such as pervasive stigma.

Progress till date

This program has now reached 8500+ youth directly through 112 community events and workshops; worked with 294 advisors and co-design participants, trained 73 youth advocates in mental health leadership, and reached more than 27 million users on social media. 

In 2019, It’s OK To Talk was recognized as one of Facebook's 10 most prominent international youth mental health campaigns and included in a Facebook-led donation campaign.

It's OK to Talk initiated by Baatcheet in 2022 is a two-year-long research program to design, develop, and pilot a web-based storytelling intervention intended to reduce anxiety, depression, and social disability among youth aged 16-24 years.

In October 2024, we relaunched the It's Ok To Talk website with a fresh look and new features with a collection of 200+ personal stories published by young people.