Revolutionizing mental health: India’s first patented emotional wellness tool

Dr. Sandeep Vohra, a globally respected psychiatrist and pioneer in digital mental health, has unveiled India’s first patented emotional wellness screening tool, the Emotional Wellness Index (EWI). Developed over a decade of research in collaboration with Houston University, USA, the EWI is a 55-point digital screening scale designed to accurately assess stress levels and emotional well-being in students and adults.

Patent-protected in India, this innovation marks a major milestone in positioning the country at the forefront of global emotional wellness solutions. The EWI, currently being deployed through No Worry No Tension Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., recently earned recognition under the ‘CNBC-TV18 HealthX Elevate Startups – Batch of 2025’ on October 13, 2025.

Recent data indicate that over 35% of Indian college students experience high stress or anxiety, underlining the urgent need for scalable and proactive mental health interventions. The EWI addresses this gap by enabling mass digital screening on an unprecedented scale. It facilitates early identification of emotional distress, promotes timely intervention, and remains cost-effective, confidential, and stigma-free. The tool also generates data-driven insights that can guide policymakers, educators, and organizations in shaping mental health strategies and personalized care programs.

Commenting on the launch, Dr. Sandeep Vohra, Founder of NWNT.ai, said: “Mental health is no longer a silent struggle, it is a critical pillar of personal and societal well-being. With the Emotional Wellness Index, we aim to transform how emotional health is understood, assessed, and addressed. Our vision is to make emotional wellness accessible, affordable, and stigma-free for everyone, reaching over one million people every month and ensuring that mental health is recognized not as a privilege, but as a universal right.”

Globally, institutions such as the University of California, San Diego, have demonstrated the success of integrating emotional wellness screening with structured counselling to support at-risk students. In India, Dr. Vohra and his team have partnered with Manav Rachna University to implement a similar model starting with comprehensive emotional well-being screening, followed by continuous counselling support provided by on-campus mental health professionals.

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. Taranjeet Duggal, Dean, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, said: “With over 35% of Indian college students reporting high stress or anxiety, our partnership with Dr. Vohra to introduce the Emotional Wellness Index at Manav Rachna University comes at a crucial time. This scientifically validated tool allows us to assess emotional well-being at scale, identify early signs of distress, and foster a data-driven, compassionate campus culture where mental health is valued as deeply as academic excellence.”

Beyond individual campuses, the EWI is being adopted across 20 colleges under Pune University in partnership with Apollo Telemedicine, providing students with structured access to digital screening and counselling. This partnership underscores the potential of combining technology with mental health services to reach large and diverse populations.

Together, these initiatives signal a paradigm shift in India’s approach to mental health, one rooted in screening, counselling, and sustained support. With the Emotional Wellness Index at its core, the country is poised to lead in building emotionally resilient communities and shaping a future where mental wellness is proactive, inclusive, and data-driven.