Deepika Padukone becomes India’s first Mental Health Ambassador, promoting awareness with MoHFW on World Mental Health Day. PM Modi highlights the cause.

Deepika Padukone, the founder of The Live Love Laugh (LLL) Foundation and a Bollywood actor, has been appointed as the first-ever Mental Health Ambassador by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) in New Delhi.

In recognition of World Mental Health Day, the announcement represents a substantial advancement in India’s ongoing endeavors to prioritize mental well-being as a critical element of public health.

Deepika Padukone took to Instagram to express her gratitude to the government for entrusting her with this significant role in advocating for mental health awareness. She wrote, “I am deeply honored to be appointed as the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare’s first-ever Mental Health Ambassador on World Mental Health Day.”

She also underscored the significant strides that India has made to prioritize mental health in the context of public health under the stewardship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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‘Our nation has taken significant strides to prioritize mental health as a critical component of public health, under the leadership of our Hon. Prime Minister @narendramodi. I have witnessed the extent of what is feasible when we collaborate to establish a mentally healthy India through my personal experience and the work completed at @tllllfoundation over the past decade. I am eager to collaborate with Shri. @jpnaddaofficial and @mohfwindia to further establish India’s mental health framework, Deepika stated in her post.

In addition, Deepika Padukone posted a photograph from her meeting with Union Health Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava and Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, JP Nadda.

At the event, Health Minister Nadda stated that Deepika’s participation as a national advocate will bolster the emphasis on mental health and motivate individuals to seek expeditious assistance through government-approved mental health resources.

‘The partnership with Ms. Deepika Padukone will aid in the widespread dissemination of awareness about mental health issues in India, normalize discussions to reduce stigma, and emphasize mental health as a critical component of public health,’ he stated.

The ‘Piku‘ actor will collaborate closely with the Ministry in her new position to promote Tele MANAS (Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States) and other government-approved mental health resources, drive de-stigmatization initiatives, encourage help-seeking and preventive practices, and advance mental health awareness.

When it comes to raising awareness about the significance of mental health, Deepika Padukone has consistently been at the forefront. She began to express her perspective on the significance of mental health through her foundation, ‘The Live Love Laugh Foundation’ (TLLLF), which was established in June, 2015.

Her inspiration to establish the foundation was derived from her personal experiences with depression, and she has since publicly discussed her journey.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier in the day urged the inclusion of mental health discussions in public discourse and society as a mainstream issue. He also commended individuals who are actively promoting mental well-being throughout the nation..

In a post on the social media platform X, the Prime Minister stated, “World Mental Health Day serves as a powerful reminder that mental health is a fundamental part of our overall well-being.” The significance of reflecting and extending compassion to others is emphasized on this day in a fast-paced world.

PM Modi also urged a collective effort to normalize discussions about mental health, stating, “Let us also work collectively to create environments where those conversations become more mainstream.” I extend my compliments to all those who are employed in this profession and are assisting others in their pursuit of happiness and healing.

Globally, World Mental Health Day is commemorated annually on October 10. It was initially observed in 1992 by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH), as per the World Health Organization (WHO).

The WHO has announced that the focus of this year’s campaign is the pressing necessity to provide assistance to individuals who have been impacted by humanitarian emergencies in terms of their mental health and psychosocial requirements.

In accordance with the World Health Organization, it is imperative that all stakeholders, including government officials, health and social care providers, school personnel, and community groups, collaborate.