Mental Health Innovation Sprint

Subtitle: India's First 24-Hour National Level Mental Health Hackathon

Organiser: NAU (Now As You Are) under InnerWhispers Wellness LLP

MENTIS 24 is not just an event — it is a movement. India's first **24-hour national level mental health hackathon**, bringing together the brightest minds from across the country to build real, scalable solutions to the mental health crisis facing students and communities.

Where most hackathons solve business problems, MENTIS 24 solves human ones. Participants do not just code — they design and prototype solutions that could transform how an entire generation experiences mental health support.

Ecosystem Partnership

Telangana Innovation Cell (TGIC) partnered as an ecosystem collaborator, supporting outreach, innovation nominations, and ecosystem connectivity. Their involvement helped bring interdisciplinary innovators together and strengthened the event's impact across the regional startup and innovation ecosystem.

Collaborating Community

The event was co-executed with the NAU Vaagdevi student innovation team, a student-led community committed to advancing conversations around mental health, technology, and social innovation on campus.

Who Participates

MENTIS 24 brings together students, innovators, developers, designers, psychologists, and changemakers from across India — forming cross-disciplinary teams that combine technical skills with deep mental health understanding.

Focus Areas of MENTIS 24

AI-Powered Mental Health Screening — Early detection tools that identify at-risk students through intelligent pattern recognition and behavioural insights.

Peer Support Platforms — Digital ecosystems enabling students to support each other safely and effectively across campuses.

Stress & Burnout Management Tools — Accessible digital solutions that help students manage anxiety, stress, and academic pressure.

Anonymous Support Systems — Privacy-first technologies that allow students to seek support without fear of stigma or exposure.

Data-Driven Mental Health Campaigns — Platforms that use storytelling, analytics, and digital media to transform how campuses talk about mental health.

How MENTIS 24 Works

Hour 0 — Opening & Team Formation
Teams register, meet mentors, and receive challenge briefs before the 24-hour clock begins.

Hours 1–8 — Ideation & Research
Teams define problems, research their solution space, and develop early concepts.

Hours 8–20 — Build & Prototype
Intensive development phase where teams design, code, and test working prototypes.

Hours 20–22 — Finalization & Pitch Prep
Teams refine their solutions and prepare final presentations.

Hours 22–24 — Final Pitch & Judging
Teams present to a jury of mental health professionals, technologists, and ecosystem leaders.

Why MENTIS 24 Matters

The mental health crisis in India cannot be solved by therapy alone. It requires **technology, innovation, community collaboration, and new thinking**. MENTIS 24 is where those forces come together.

What Participants Walk Away With

Real experience building mental health solutions under pressure
Mentorship from mental health professionals and technologists
A working prototype with real-world application potential
National-level networking opportunities
Recognition, prizes, and pathways for further development

Callout

MENTIS 24 is InnerWhispers' flagship initiative — representing the future of mental health innovation in India where psychology, technology, and human empathy converge to build solutions that could impact millions.