The Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) appoints Deepika Padukone as India’s first ‘Mental Health Ambassador’, A significant step towards normalising discussions on the subject, reducing stigma, and highlighting mental health as an integral aspect of public health.
Deepika Padukone, actor and founder of the nonprofit organization, The Live Love Laugh (LLL) Foundation, has been appointed as India’s first ‘Mental Health Ambassador’ by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), on Friday. A significant step to “normalise discussions to reduce stigma, and highlight mental health as an integral aspect of public health.”
Public Health In India
On the occasion of World Mental Health Day, J.P. Nadda welcomed the collaboration, stating, “The partnership with Ms. Deepika Padukone will help widely disseminate awareness about mental health issues in India, normalise discussions to reduce stigma, and highlight mental health as an integral aspect of public health.”
Sharing thoughts on the appointment, Deepika Padukone expressed on Instagram, “I am deeply honoured to serve as the first-ever Mental Health Ambassador for the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has made significant strides in prioritising mental health care. I look forward to working closely with the Ministry to build on this momentum and further strengthen our nation’s mental health framework.”
Deepika Padukone’s Role As Mental Health Ambassador
Through this initiative, the actress, who has been advocating for mental health for the last 10 years through LLL, will now closely work with the ministry. She will amplify awareness by encouraging open conversations, reducing stigma, emphasising mental health and promoting Tele MANAS (Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States), which the ministry has launched as part of public health in India.
LLL Foundation
Earlier today, the actress took to Instagram to reflect on her journey since founding the LLL Foundation in 2015. She said, “Ten years ago, it was really about just having more and more people to be ok. For helping someone to identify what they are feeling, based on the symptoms that I’ve experienced and shared publicly. When people come up to me and say, ‘You’ve saved a life,’ or ‘You’ve helped my daughter,’ nothing compares to that feeling in that moment.”
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