Kodagu-Based NGO Mind and Matter’s Third Annual Mental Health Campaign Reaches Over 4,500 Participants

The event was launched by Deepika Appaiah, founder of Mind and Matter, with notable participation from experts and volunteers dedicated to mental health awareness.

Mysuru: The third Mental Health Awareness Campaign for Schools and Colleges, an annual event organised by Mind and Matter, an NGO based in Kodagu, was inaugurated on 10 November 2024 at Sapient College, Mysuru, and reached over 4,500 participants.

The event was launched by Deepika Appaiah, founder of Mind and Matter, with notable participation from experts and volunteers dedicated to mental health awareness.

The campaign began with an inaugural ceremony featuring Rashmi Koti, Managing Editor of Andolana newspaper, as the chief guest, and Dr. Elangovan Aravind Raj, an additional professor in the Department of Psychiatric Social Work at the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), as the guest of honour.

The training for this campaign was facilitated by NIMHANS’ Department of Psychiatric Social Work, with a focus on community mental health. "We had 35 participants, including 28 regular volunteers, trained for the sessions," said Appaiah. The volunteers represented diverse backgrounds, including corporate employees, medical and psychology students, and professionals.

The campaign covered three districts in Karnataka, starting with schools in Mysuru from 11 to 12 November. It reached 10 schools and colleges in the city, followed by two schools in Hassan on 13 November. From 13 to 15 November, the campaign extended to 11 schools and colleges in and around Kodagu district.

Throughout the campaign, volunteers conducted separate sessions tailored for students, teachers, and parents. Each session was carefully designed, with one volunteer engaging groups of approximately 25 participants. Over the course of the campaign, about 4,500 individuals participated.

The campaign concluded with an informal valedictory event on 16 November, where certificates were distributed to the volunteers. “This initiative underscores the importance of mental health awareness and the need to involve all stakeholders—students, teachers, and parents—in addressing mental health challenges,” Appaiah added.

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