Mental Health Discussion with Young Philanthropists in Mumbai

On January 15, Synergos hosted a panel for young philanthropists in Mumbai, India. It was moderated by Kevin Lee, CEO of Yuvaa, India’s first Gen Z-driven youth media, impact, and research platform.

One of the featured panelists was GPC member Abha Dandekar, CEO of Elephant In The Room Consulting, a startup focused on workplace mental health which aims to educate, spread awareness, reduce stigma, and enable corporations to build systems that foster better mental health of their workforce. Also joining the panel were Raj Mariwala, director of Mariwala Health Initiative, and writer Aparna Piramal.

The event emphasized crucial themes around mental health such as accessibility, affordability, and integration. Participants recognized that the current state of Indian philanthropy in this realm lacks scale, and measuring outcomes remains a challenge. Mental health emerged as a complex issue intersecting with development and poverty, necessitating a holistic and multi-dimensional approach.

It was noted that the Covid-19 pandemic catalyzed discussions on mental health, complemented by the amplifying effect of social media. However, challenges persist in rural areas, where counseling efforts face resistance and scalability issues. Leveraging existing support networks and local allies has shown promise in addressing these challenges. Despite the hurdles, the panel ended on a positive note, recognizing the evolving dialogue and the potential for meaningful change in mental health discourse and support systems.