In residential schools, children often find it difficult to share concerns especially when they are seeking support concerning accessing healthcare services or even sharing about an issue they could be facing. The stigma surrounding Menstrual Health & Hygiene adds to their frustration and isolation.

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Bindu, a 7th grader at a residential school in Karnataka, faced these very challenges. She was experiencing excessive white discharge and irregular bleeding. Her mother dismissed her concerns and suggested she speak to someone at the hostel. However, Bindu found it hard to share her worries, feeling isolated and unsupported.

Uninhibited stress upon creating a stress-free non-judgmental environment for adolescent girls to learn and talk about their body and related experiences and exercise more agency. In this case, Bindu reached out to our community resource person (CRP) who was conducting PeriodShala sessions at her school, who also supported her in accessing appropriate healthcare support.

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Bindu was diagnosed with anaemia upon treatment — which remains a public health challenge for adolescents, impacting their lives in multiple ways. However, she has seen a noticeable improvement in her health post the visit.

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While awareness among adolescents is essential, adults too need to be sensitised to their realities and how to respond effectively and empathetically. This emphasises the importance of supportive environments where health issues can be discussed without fear of judgement.