A safe space for conversations on mental health and mental illness in India
Shruti Venkatesh Here’s what we know: Indian cinema, especially Bollywood, repeatedly misrepresents mental health and illness. And yet, India is not a country completely in the dark when it comes to mental health awareness. So why does its most popular…
By Kamna Chhibber Undertaking therapy is not an easy decision for most people. Over the years that I have interacted with patients, doctors, friends and family I have recognised the many myths and misconceptions that people harbour about both therapy…
By Vandita Morarka “People call us hijra, chakka and all sorts of things, no one asks us our individual names or what we want to be called. Terminology doesn’t matter when there is no respect,” Surekha*, a transgender woman from…
(By Kishore Mohan and Merryn John/ Health Collective)
Havovi Hyderabadwalla is a clinical and forensic psychologist, who believes that the knowledge of psychology is a powerful tool that can improve lives. Edited excerpts of her interview with The Health Collective’s Sukanya Sharma. Can you take us through any gender-related…
By Sohni Chakrabarti How do you begin to chart the cartographies of pain? Where do you really start? Is there ever a starting point to your pain? A certain location within the map of your mind where you can pin-point…
By Scherezade Siobhan The recent months have seen the emergence of a resounding global movement that is countering the unfortunate prevalence of sexual, emotional and physical violence against women and woman-identified folks. There is a developing social consciousness that is rightly…
The Health Collective/ Image courtesy Raw Pixel This Women’s Day, as part of our special series, we’re bringing you more from and about our wonderful contributors. Here are edited excerpts of an interview with Kamna Chhibber, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Head, Mental…
By Shubhrata Prakash Mental illness is tough on everyone, men and women, and even tougher on children; and so is the social stigma surrounding its various forms. No one has it easier simply because they are a man or a…
By Riya* I have had a difficult, tiring experience with depression. But I fought and overcame it all. Here is my story. I was a brilliant student until my 10th standard, when I had a nervous breakdown. The doctors in…