India Launches Groundbreaking DBT Program to Curb Youth Suicides

A new mental health initiative is launching in India to tackle rising suicide rates among young people. Mpower, part of the Aditya Birla Education Trust, has teamed up with the Behavioral Tech Institute to introduce a structured Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) programme. The effort aims to support individuals at risk of suicide and self-harm through evidence-based treatment. India records over 170,000 suicide deaths each year, with 35-40 percent involving young adults aged 15 to 29. Despite the high numbers, access to structured mental health interventions remains limited, especially in public healthcare.

The new DBT programme, known for reducing suicide attempts, self-harm, and hospitalisations, will begin in Mumbai with its first cohort. Over the next year, clinicians will undergo training to build expertise in delivering DBT.

Mpower plans to expand the programme over five years, creating a network of trained professionals across public and private healthcare institutions. Marsh India is supporting the initiative as part of its corporate social responsibility focus on mental health. The collaboration brings together leading clinicians to strengthen India’s mental healthcare system. The DBT Intensive Programme will provide structured therapy for high-risk individuals. With training and expanded access, the initiative seeks to reduce suicide and self-harm rates in the long term. The first phase marks a step toward integrating evidence-based mental health care into India’s public and private sectors.