Health Collective

Exit Signs: Understanding Abusive Relationships

September 17, 2018September 17, 2018 Health CollectiveLeave a Comment

By Dr Samir Parikh While every relationship inevitably has its ups and downs, the experience of being a victim of abuse by one’s partner is very traumatic and painful. The consequences of being in such a relationship are equally devastating, if not more, than a physically abusive relationship, with the additional factor of the subtle nature […]

Suicide Prevention Day: Creating the Space to Seek Help

September 10, 2018September 9, 2018 Health CollectiveLeave a Comment

By Kamna Chhibber Speaking, talking and sharing are not always given space in society. Often we shy away from discussing difficult issues. We find it a challenge to share our true thoughts and feelings. Many feel that what goes on within them may not be acceptable to others around them and in society at large. […]

Rebooting Wellness

September 1, 2018 Health CollectiveLeave a Comment

RebootWellness is a Gurgaon-based venture which aims to provide easy and affordable mental healthcare. Devanik Saha interviews Monika Chowdhry to find more about their approach to mental healthcare, and some of the larger problems they are trying to address. Read edited excerpts of the interview below. Can you tell us more about Reboot Wellness? Who […]

Health Insurance for All: Mental Health

August 16, 2018August 16, 2018 Health CollectiveLeave a Comment

By The Health Collective Is Mental Healthcare in India coming of age? It might be premature to celebrate, but there is a huge and significant move that looks at ensuring that mental healthcare is treated on par with physical or general medical healthcare. There is a directive to insurers to ensure medical insurance for treatment […]

Mental Illness, Stigma and Gender Stereotypes

March 7, 2018May 1, 2018 Health Collective4 Comments

By Shubhrata Prakash Mental illness is tough on everyone, men and women, and even tougher on children; and so is the social stigma surrounding its various forms. No one has it easier simply because they are a man or a woman. However, there do exist gender-based differences in the way families and society, and even the […]

Love, Understanding, and a Boyfriend with Bipolar Disorder

January 7, 2018May 1, 2018 Health CollectiveLeave a Comment

By NN* I fell in love when I was 19. A seemingly innocuous statement that could have underlined the life of any person in the last year of their teens. But when I write love, I mean it was really love. The kind that matures over years of being together, tethered by a shared life and the […]

Talking Mental Health in the New Year

January 1, 2018April 30, 2018 Health CollectiveLeave a Comment

Also Read: Portrayal of Mental Illness Also Read: The Importance of Being Kind to Yourself

Mental Health in the News: Toxic Air and Mental Health

November 11, 2017May 7, 2018 Health CollectiveLeave a Comment

THE HEADLINE: How Toxic Air Clouds Mental Health (Science Daily) WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Researchers at the University of Washington School of Public Health have found that air pollution not only affects the lungs, but also the brain. The study merged results of a study with 6,000 participants, with an air pollution database, with records corresponding […]

Severe Side Effects: One Woman’s Journey Through Antidepressants

October 10, 2017May 8, 2018 Health Collective1 Comment

By Bee Rowlatt “Antidepressants can save lives, but they made me want to kill.” Katinka Blackford Newman learnt the hard way. When the British film-maker’s marriage fell apart in 2012 she began having sleepless nights. She went to see her family doctor, who diagnosed anxiety and prescribed escitalopram (Lexapro in the US; sold as Cipralex, […]

The Law and You: Mental Healthcare Insurance in India

September 25, 2017August 16, 2018 Health Collective3 Comments

By Vandita Morarka An India Spend report highlights that 60 million Indians suffer from mental disorders, this is about 6.5% of the country’s population. The World Health Organisation also estimates that around 57 million Indians suffer from depression. A recent survey by the National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) states that 13.7 % […]