Bengaluru, October 10, 2023: In an effort to address various concerns around mental health awareness across a diverse population in India, a collective of organizations that are stalwarts in their respective vocations have come together to launch the Mental Health Campaign Collective (MHCC).

The collective is being launched by VerSe Changemakers, the purpose-driven social impact content initiative of VerSe Innovation, supported by MASH Project Foundation, a leading social impact enabler, to bring together different organizations working towards advancing awareness and progress on improving mental health and well-being in India.

Members who join MHCC will benefit from a shared repository of experiences, insights, and best practices, encouraging consistent progress. The Collective welcomes entities spanning civil society, media, the private sector, youth organizations, and academia to contribute to this monumental mission, solidifying the commitment to improve the mental well-being of millions of Indians.

The collective aims to empower mental health practitioners and advocate for a sharper focus on mental health from all societal quarters.  This collective is the culmination of a month-long campaign aptly titled "There For You", which endeavoured not just to place mental health at the forefront of public discourse but to simplify the complex challenges it presents. The campaign sheds light on the intersectionality of mental health, highlighting how our well-being is deeply intertwined with various spheres of life - such as in schools, corporate workplaces, in the lives of Gen Z. More topics focused on tele-mental health services as the need of the hour, measures to destigmatize mental health in India, emerging solutions and therapies, role of gratitude journaling in creating mental well-being, among others via formats such as a panel, articles, short video bytes, video interviews, and a digital challenge.

Relevance of Mental Health as part of Overall Well-Being

To mark the importance of World Mental Health Day this year, the United Nations brings an opportunity for people and communities to unite behind the theme ‘Mental health is a universal human right’ and improve knowledge, raise awareness, and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.

Echoing this global sentiment of urgency, this collective will tap into VerSe's expansive digital media platforms, Josh and Dailyhunt, supported by One India, to maximize outreach through the power of storytelling, distribution and editorial. The collective will prioritize bridging gaps, sharing knowledge, and fostering collaboration to address complex challenges of mental health faced across the length and breadth of a diverse nation like India.

No Longer a ‘Silent’ Pandemic

In India, mental illness constitutes one-sixth of all health-related disorders. It is an influx that indicates a severe "mental health crisis," exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic's social and economic impacts. The startling suicidal rates amongst students and celebrated individuals in our country have also raised concerns about how mental health has been ignored amongst diverse pockets of professional and social communities. The National Mental Health Policy 2014 and the Mental Healthcare Act 2017 have proposed measures to address these issues. However, more needs to be done.

Umang Bedi, Co-Founder, of VerSe Innovation, said, “We are thrilled to announce the launch of the Mental Health Campaign Collective (MHCC) on this World Mental Health Day. At VerSe Innovation, we firmly believe in the power of collective action to drive positive change. The 'There For You' campaign was just the beginning, and MHCC represents our commitment to furthering the cause of mental health awareness and well-being in India. Through MHCC, we aim to unite organisations focused on mental health awareness, sharing knowledge, and advocating for increased societal focus on the crucial issue. Together, we can collectively create a meaningful impact in the lives of those in need.

As we reflect on World Mental Health Awareness Day, let's remember that awareness without action is hollow. Let the significance of this day be a stepping stone to a future where mental well-being isn't a privilege but a right, a norm. As we navigate the challenges of the modern world, the importance of our mental well-being has never been clearer. And while the path ahead is fraught with challenges, with collective endeavours like MHCC, there is a beacon of hope.