On the occasion of International Youth Day, 12 August 2026, STOP NGO organised an interactive counselling session on “Peer Pressure” for 46 students aged 10–19 years at Tughlakabad.
The session was facilitated by psychological counsellor Aprajita Singh, with Paridhi Negi, Project Associate, STOP Office, present to monitor the session and actively engage the students throughout the activities.
Starting with Connection and Interaction
The session began with an introduction to STOP NGO and the facilitator, followed by an engaging ice-breaker activity, “Find Someone Who…”. The activity encouraged students to interact with one another while discovering similarities and differences among their peers.
Understanding Peer Pressure Through Discussion
Students watched a short video on peer pressure and were asked to observe an important question: “Who is influencing whom?”
The video was followed by an interactive discussion where students explored:
- What peer pressure means
- Who a “peer” is
- The difference between family pressure and peer pressure
- What makes someone a true and supportive friend
- The key messages from the video
The discussion helped students connect the concept of peer pressure with situations they may encounter in their everyday lives.
Activity: “The Pressure Line”
The session then moved into “The Pressure Line”, an activity based on six real-life situations involving peer pressure. The situations covered friendship, bullying and mockery, skipping classes, conditional friendships, phone and social comparison, and social media.
Students had to respond with Yes or No and, importantly, explain the reasons behind their choices. Their responses brought out some common challenges young people face, including the desire to remain accepted within a friend group and difficulty in saying “No.”
Activity: The “NO Challenge”
The “NO Challenge” focused on turning awareness into practical skills. Students explored different ways of responding when they feel pressured by their peers. Through the activity, they were introduced to assertive communication and responsible decision-making. The discussion emphasised that saying “No” does not make someone a bad friend and that healthy friendships should respect individual choices and boundaries.
Reflection and Key Learnings
The session concluded with a reflection activity where students shared what they had learned. The key messages included:
Do not make decisions under pressure.
It is okay to say No.
Make independent and responsible choices.
Seek help from a trusted person when unsure.
Healthy friendships respect individual choices.
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