The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF), a not-for-profit organization which aims to raise awareness of mental health in India,has partnered with the Indian Psychiatric Society (IPS), the flagship association for psychiatric professionals in India, to jointly develop outreach programs to highlight the urgent and massive mental health challenges that India faces.
The Indian Psychiatric Society will assist TLLLF in the nationwide roll-out of a sensitisation program on mental health for Doctorscalled “Together Against Depression.”The program commenced in May 2016 with a webinar for doctors conducted in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association (IMA), which had~2,000 participating doctors. TLLLF aims to expand the program to a further 5,000 doctors, by the end of this financial year.
As part of the agreement with the IPS, Deepika Padukone, Founder of TLLLF, will become the brand ambassador of the society. She has offered her support on a pro bono basis.
“Mental health of Indian citizens is a large and growing challenge for the country and the more resources we have to combat this issue, the better the chances that those who need help can secure the support they need. The Live Love Laugh Foundation and Indian Psychiatric Society have a shared vision to make mental health a priority for the government and for society at large. I am very pleased to support the activities of the Indian Psychiatric Society in my role as their brand ambassador,” said Deepika Padukone, Founder – The Live Love Laugh Foundation.
“India is home to the largest number of mental health patients in the world with at least 50 million Indians estimated to be undergoing depression at any one point in time. However, our country is home to one of the smallest per capita base of mental health professionals globally.The IPS is focused on positive mental health and in stigma reduction not only for depression but also across the spectrum for all psychiatric disorders.The crisis our country is facing requires urgent interventions at various levels and we are very pleased at the work that’s been by various organizations in this regard. We are delighted to partner with TLLLF and contribute the expertise of our members to support the foundation’s activities,” said Dr. G Prasad Rao, President, Indian Psychiatric Society, commenting on the agreement with TLLLF.