By Sukanya Sharma “Yeh freelancing kya hota hai, beta?” …As I try to explain my work profile to my parents. I’ve been repeating this for about 3 years now, almost. And every time, I have to come up with ‘acceptable’…
In Plain Fright – Understanding Therapy for Phobias
By Scherezade Siobhan Awaiting the elevator to hit the ground floor, from the corner of my eye I am watching the Swiggy delivery guy sign into the visitor’s entry register and secretly praying that he speeds up so he can…
Rebooting Wellness
RebootWellness is a Gurgaon-based venture which aims to provide easy and affordable mental healthcare. Devanik Saha interviews Monika Chowdhry to find more about their approach to mental healthcare, and some of the larger problems they are trying to address. Read…
Unravelling the Mystery of Anxiety Disorders
By Kamna Chhibber The unknown typically induces fear. Many mental health conditions — despite the stark statistics that show their prevalence — continue to be a mystery to a large segment of the population. Thinking prevails that mental health conditions…
Interviewing Miss International Queen
As part of our Freedom Series, Devanik Saha interviews Nitasha Biswas, Miss International Queen 2018. Edited excerpts from the interview. “Tackling one’s mental health is one of the biggest challenges for any LGBTQ+ person. Given India’s societal stereotypes, accepting your…
The Freedom Series: Coming to Terms With Your Sexuality
By Devanik Saha First, a shocking reality check. Two of every 3 queer persons reported hearing homophobic comments in their workplace, according to this 2016 LGBT Workplace Climate Survey, conducted by the Mission for Indian Gay & Lesbian Empowerment. That’s not…
The Freedom Series: Interviewing an Advocate for LGBTQ Rights
Vandita Morarka interviews Koninika Roy, an Advocacy Manager at The Humsafar Trust, as part of our ongoing Freedom Series on The Health Collective. Tell us a little about yourself? I am 24 years old. I am an advocate for LGBTQ…
The Freedom Series: Being Gay and ‘Manning Up’ in the Media
By Anant Zanane I have a story to tell. Of being a deeply closeted mediawala, who tried to fit into the cut-throat world of breaking news journalism. I lost myself in the process and even inflicted self-harm. But it has also…
Health Insurance for All: Mental Health
By The Health Collective Is Mental Healthcare in India coming of age? It might be premature to celebrate, but there is a huge and significant move that looks at ensuring that mental healthcare is treated on par with physical or…
The Freedom Series: Mental Health and the Queer Community
By Devanik Saha More than 60 million people in India are estimated to suffer from some form of mental illness. Some communities are particularly vulnerable and under-served. “Tackling one’s mental health is one of the biggest challenges for any LGBTQ+…