Who is affected?
Every day, thousands of youth in Goa’s slums including both local Goan children and migrant youth, face overwhelming and unspoken mental health struggles. Living in overcrowded settlements with limited support, these young people endure poverty, exposure to crime, domestic violence, and a daily sense of insecurity. This leads to growing cases of anxiety, depression, trauma, and substance abuse. They are often left to suffer silently, without therapy, guidance, or even someone to talk to. Without early intervention, many slip into lifelong emotional pain, crime, or social isolation.

What is at stake?
If these urgent challenges are left unaddressed, it’s not only slum communities that will suffer — the consequences will ripple across all of Goa. Rising mental health distress among youth contributes to increased petty crime, overwhelmed public services, and deepening social divisions.

But this cycle can be broken. The Goa Slum Youth Mental Health, Empowerment, and Community Safety Bill, 2025 offers a meaningful, community-driven response. By creating accessible therapy spaces, equipping local workers with mental health awareness, and fostering cultural connection, the Bill supports both migrant and local youth alike. It’s a step toward safer neighbourhoods, stronger community ties, and a healthier, more united Goa.

Why is now the time to act?
Over 35% of adolescents in India’s urban slums face mental health crises (George Institute for Global Health, 2023). In Goa, this silent epidemic is growing - right in our own neighbourhoods. At Smilekeepers Foundation, working closely in slum communities, we’ve seen the pain up close: youth who feel “not okay” but don’t have the words or the support to express it.

This Bill was born from those very voices. It is not a top-down policy, it’s a ground-up solution, shaped by real conversations, lived experiences, and urgent community needs. It brings support where it matters most: into the streets, homes, and hearts of slum youth, without shame or delay.

We’ve seen how even one trusted listener or one safe space can change the course of a young life. That’s why action can’t wait. Every day of delay costs us more futures. Let Goa be the first state to face this crisis with courage and lead India in healing young minds with compassion and dignity.

Sign and share this petition to urge the Hon’ble Minister and the Government of Goa to:
🔹 Pass the Bill without delay
🔹 Fund it with the full budget needed for year one
🔹 Show the youth of Goa that their mental health and well-being matter
🔹 Recognize youth mental health as a real, urgent, and shared responsibility

Together, let’s build a Goa where every young person can thrive – because healing minds means saving lives.

Petition by:
Younus Shaikh
Founder of Smilekeepers Foundation
Goa-India