Skip to main content

Breaking stigma: Unique campaign launched to increase awareness about mental health

By A Representative
 
In a powerful and heartfelt initiative to confront India's growing mental health crisis, a unique awareness campaign titled Breaking Stigma One Mile at a Time was flagged off from New Delhi on April 20. The campaign is aimed at increasing awareness about mental health, encouraging young people to seek professional support, and building a more compassionate environment for those struggling with mental illness. The journey was flagged off by psychiatrists Dr Amit Sen and Dr Rajiv Mehta, along with therapist Khilly Marwaha. Professors Mridula Mukherjee, Aditya Mukherjee, and Apoorvanand also joined the send-off, along with over a hundred friends, family members, and well-wishers.
India is facing a serious mental health crisis. Mental disorders are now the second most common cause of years lived with disability, while suicide is the third leading cause of death in many states. According to national data, 15 percent of Indian adults need mental health support, yet between 70 and 92 percent do not receive any treatment. More than 110 million people continue to struggle, and over one lakh lives are lost to suicide each year. These numbers highlight the urgent need for widespread awareness, access to treatment, and the dismantling of stigma.
The campaign is the brainchild of Seher Hashmi, a motivational speaker and fashion stylist. Her own journey with mental illness began in her teens when she was diagnosed with clinical depression and borderline personality disorder. Seher’s struggles began with childhood trauma after being relinquished to an orphanage at just nine months of age. With over a decade of therapy, support from mental health professionals, and encouragement from family and friends, Seher slowly reclaimed her life. But she soon realised that her access to care made her one of the fortunate few. Millions in India continue to suffer in silence, unable to access professional help due to the shame and misinformation surrounding mental health.
Determined to rewrite this narrative, Seher began sharing her story through videos and interactive workshops. Her efforts have reached students, rural communities, and NGOs across the country. This new journey marks a powerful continuation of that work.
Riding alongside Seher on Royal Enfield motorbikes is Dev Desai, a well-known social activist with over 15 years of grassroots experience. Dev became particularly engaged with mental health advocacy during the COVID-19 pandemic, when he helped coordinate a volunteer-led initiative called Talk It Out, which provided free online counselling services for youth. The initiative mobilised 140 volunteers, 100 of whom were trained psychologists, and reached over 300 people, including callers from outside India.
Also part of the team is filmmaker Samanyu Shukla, who has been capturing human stories for over a decade through documentaries and photography. He is documenting the entire campaign, with plans to produce a film that captures the personal and collective impact of the journey. Nazneen Shaikh, a self-taught singer and organiser, will be performing at events along the way and speaking about the healing power of music in dealing with trauma and emotional distress. Driving the team’s support vehicle is Mehraj U Din, a science graduate who runs a bakery in Kupwara and has volunteered to support the campaign from Delhi to Kupwara and back.
The team will travel through 21 cities and villages, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Jammu, Srinagar, Kupwara, Baramulla, Anantnag, Rohtak, Ludhiana, and others. They will be conducting 30 interactive sessions in schools, colleges, community spaces, and mental health facilities. These sessions will involve open conversations with young people, community members, and mental health professionals to foster understanding and encourage those in need to seek help.
Seher continues to motivate people through her lived experience, while Dev is focused on building networks with local professionals and mental health groups. Nazneen’s voice will offer both inspiration and emotional comfort at each stop. Samanyu’s visual storytelling will ensure the stories of the people they meet are preserved and amplified. The team will also be distributing folders containing accessible mental health information, coping strategies, and helpline numbers.
Breaking Stigma One Mile at a Time is not just a campaign—it is a journey of courage, connection, and collective healing. It invites every citizen to be part of a movement that recognises mental health as a priority and reminds us that no one should have to suffer alone.

Comments

TRENDING

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor*  A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra  Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas*  Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan  Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat*  In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative   At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative   A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman*   The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra*  The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.