Mandalas, gongs, therapy dogs: Mumbai fest takes mental health beyond clinics

Mumbai recently hosted a mental health festival, emphasizing the importance of well-being beyond traditional clinic settings. Organized by the Kripa Foundation and Mooskan, a mental health and wellbeing organization, the event, titled "Mental Health Fest: Come As You Are," was held on the first floor of Mount Carmel Church. The festival featured activities aimed at emotional expression, relaxation, and mental wellbeing conversations.

Visitors engaged in various activities, including art therapy, sound healing, animal-assisted therapy, and yoga. The festival aimed to encourage conversations about emotional wellbeing and address the stigma surrounding mental health. Participants, including children, adults, and senior citizens, joined in coloring mandalas, practicing yoga, and walking around the space.

Counselling psychologist Swati Shah explained that the colors chosen in mandala designs could provide clues to individuals' emotional states. Small enclosed cabins at the "Hear Me Out" stall offered privacy for visitors seeking to discuss their concerns with neuroaffirmative therapist Suhasini S. Sound healing practitioner Jyothika Goradia conducted sessions using gongs and singing bowls, while Aaram Corner provided a quiet space for relaxation with head massages.

Mooskan Shah, founder of Mooskan Health and Wellbeing, emphasized the festival's goal of making mental health conversations accessible in community spaces, promoting a fun and creative approach to mental wellbeing.