Background

Adolescence is often viewed as a defining stage of life, one where matters of friendships, belonging, and emotional safety are instrumental in shaping a sense of lifelong well-being. Given this, it is important to note that adolescents between the ages of 14 to 24 are most susceptible to the first symptoms of mental health concerns. Here, the presence of supportive social connections can determine whether young people thrive or struggle. However, for students and children from underserved communities, such kinds of support systems are often missing. Moreover, with limited access to expertise like pastoral care and trained mentors, or even safe social spaces, many children face emotional isolation at a time when what they need most is understanding and guidance. 

Moreover, adolescents who lack peer support systems are more vulnerable to mental health challenges. Studies show that structured peer mentoring programs can reduce students' feelings of isolation by nearly 60 percent. Despite this, there are virtually no trained peer mentors available, leaving schools under-resourced and creating a vacuum where students struggle without the needed support. This gap is further exacerbated by limited awareness among students about opportunities for skill development, artistic expression, or extracurricular engagement that could foster confidence and help uplift their mental well-being.

Traditional educational institutions, while predominantly focusing on academic remediation, often overlook the fundamental human need for belonging, emotional enrichment, and social competence development. And without intentional frameworks for peer-to-peer connection or trained mentorship, cycles of ongoing crisis continue to limit the scope for holistic development. 

The TIES Network was established to dismantle these barriers through a multi-pronged intervention framework that combines mentor training, structured social spaces, and resource accessibility, ultimately aiming to create a sustainable scaffolding ecosystem within the schools. educational environment to promote pastoral care and social integration.