On September 3rd, the Taskeen team organized a User Advisory Council (UAC) session with adolescents from two FDE schools in Islamabad. The session was designed as a focused group discussion to better understand the mental health challenges and stressors adolescents experience during this stage of life, and introduced them to the WINGS chatbot.
Students spoke openly about the pressures they face and how these challenges affect their wellbeing. When asked how such issues might be addressed, many emphasized that teachers and parents need greater awareness of adolescents’ mental health needs in order to provide better support.
As part of the session, the adolescents were also introduced to the WINGS Chatbot, an innovative tool created to psychoeducate children about mental health in an interactive and age-appropriate way. They explored the chatbot, shared their impressions, and suggested ways to enhance its use.
The feedback was overwhelmingly encouraging. Students expressed genuine excitement about the chatbot, appreciated its features, and showed eagerness to use it regularly. Many highlighted that the chatbot makes mental health learning engaging and accessible, while also offering suggestions for further improvement.
This UAC session highlighted the importance of listening to adolescents’ own voices, both in understanding the challenges they face and in shaping supportive responses that include schools, families, and communities.