Mental health

Neha Kirpal grew up navigating her mother’s schizophrenia and the silence surrounding mental illness in India. Years later, she co-built Amaha to expand access to care.

Faced with escalating anxiety in a teenager and a sudden mental health crisis in a 77-year-old caregiver, two families turned to Cadabams, a Bengaluru-based mental health organisation offering clinical treatment, rehabilitation and digital access to care through Mindtalk.

Indian families often brush aside emotions with the phrase "Beta, it's nothing." But avoiding these conversations can leave feelings bottled up. A psychologist explains how families can break this cycle, start open conversations, and foster emotional understanding without the awkwardness. It's time to talk and heal together.

When Kerala filmmaker Sidharth Harikumar left Berlin film school, he never imagined his graduation project would reach Hollywood’s doors. His short film Vasu, a haunting reflection on guilt and mental health, is now a finalist at the 2025 Student Academy Awards.

They rarely say “I love you,” but they’ve shown it in countless quiet ways — from peeling fruit to braiding hair. Across India, five dads open up about the emotions they were taught to hide, and the love that always found its way through.

When disasters strike rural India, the impact goes beyond physical damage — it deeply affects mental well-being. This World Mental Health Day, experts share how community-led care, trained ASHAs, and local support networks can build vital safety nets.

NIMHANS Director Dr Pratima Murthy shares a simple traffic light model to manage stress and build mentally healthy workplaces.

UPSC failures pushed Aryendra Kumar to the edge, but journaling, small wins, and meditation helped him find balance. His journey from despair to IPS is a reminder that mental health matters as much as hard work.

On World Suicide Prevention Day, Dr Aninda Sidhana offers a toolkit for families, educators, and peers on how to help a youth in India who is silently battling fears, hopelessness, and pressures.

A routine morning assembly in Telangana’s Adilabad now sparks change. Through 'Aarogya Pathshala', IAS officer Rajarshi Shah introduced 20-minute health lessons that fight stress, substance use, and absenteeism. Today, over 250 schools are thriving, attendance has climbed to 70%, and children are carrying lessons of health and hope home.