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Deepika Padukone initiates lecture series on mental health

Deepika Padukone in conversation with Dr Siddhartha Mukerjee

This lecture series by The Live Love Laugh Foundation aims to shape conversation around mental health.

The Live Love Laugh Foundation, a charitable trust that was set in 2015 to give hope to every person experiencing stress, anxiety and depression (SAD), held the first edition of Live, Love, Laugh – a lecture series with Deepika Padukone. The maiden lecture was delivered by Padma Shri Awardee Dr Siddhartha Mukherjee. The aim of the lecture was to invite the world’s foremost thinkers and achievers to present their ideas on mental health and the way it is perceived.

According to World Trade Organisation (WHO), Health is defined as a state of physical, mental, social and psychological wellbeing of an individual. It is not merely the absence of disease and infirmity. The definition itself makes it amply clear that mental health is an important component of the overall health spectrum.

Dr Mukherjee spoke about how in ’50s cancer was a stigmatised illness with patients facing potent forces of discrimination, fear and neglect. “When anyone was diagnosed with cancer, the blame for disease was carried by person themselves. Patients with cancer were pushed to the back of the hospital. Mental health issues carry a similar stigma.”

Dr Mukherjee had centered his talk around three forces, which he felt were needed to come together to adress mental health. These forces are political, social and biological force. The lecture series is an initiative to learn from some of the greatest mind of the 21st century. It is important for people who are passionate about mental health to talk about their journey.

Dr Mukherjee noted that progress was being made and that “there is more conversation, advocacy and philanthropy around mental health”.

“The lecture series is an initiative to learn from some of the greatest minds of the 21st century,” said Deepika Padukone, Founder, TLLLF. “It is important for people who are passionate about mental health to talk about their journey. Illnesses such as AIDS and cancer have successfully managed to break through the stigma and I believe there is a lot for us to learn from those examples.”