Apollo to spread mental health awareness with Deepika

Apollo Hospitals has partnered with The Live Love Laugh Foundation to raise awareness on Mental Health via the foundation’s “Together Against Depression” programme designed for doctors.

• Live Love Laugh Foundation is an initiative of Deepika Padukone
• Programme will cover 1200 doctors across 64 locations in India

This was announced by Dr K Hari Prasad, President - Hospital Division, Apollo Hospitals; Dr Shyam Bhat, Trustee – The Live Love Laugh Foundation and Dr J Srikanth, Sr Consultant - Internal Medicine, Apollo Hospitals; at a press conference on Thursday, on the eve of World Health Day - April 7th, 2017, with this year's theme being 'Depression.'

Through this tie-up the Live Love Laugh Foundation will conduct programs and sensitise over 1200 General Physicians from Apollo Hospitals across the country on issues of mental health and how to handle such patients, as General Physicians are the primary and often the only touch point for most of those affected by depression.

The stigma surrounding mental disorders often restricts individuals from opening up, talking and seeking remedy. Therefore it is imperative to raise community awareness and break down the taboo, to help those affected by depression and the initiative aims to accomplish that.

A not-for-profit organization with a focus on mental health awareness, The Live Love Laugh Foundation, led by its founder Deepika Padukone, has already conducted the programme for over 2,000 doctors around the country over the last 12 months. The program is being scaled up further to reach a target 5000 doctors in this year.

Speaking on the occasion Dr Hari Prasad said, 20 per cent of children and adolescents suffer from depression and they don't know how to handle it, communicate about it. There is lot of stigma attached to even talking about depression. If the problem is left unaddressed, it can lead to a major disaster in future, Dr Hari Prasad, added.

Medical practitioners can be the core of the fight against depression as they are often the primary touch point for those affected. The importance of talking about depression as a vital component of recovery and can be initiated by them. Doctors can play a vital role to reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness, including depression, which remains a barrier to people seeking help throughout the world. ‘Together Against Depression’ will equip doctors with the right skills and resources to be key influencers in the fight against depression, said Dr Shyam Bhat, Trustee – The Live Love Laugh Foundation.

Dr J Srikanth said, as a physician I thought my role was limited in addressing depression, but this program sensitises me on the pivotal role a physician plays in identifying someone in that condition and adequately addressing the problem. We can bring about a positive feeling, drive away the negative feelings in him and help him come out of it.

The programme which will be rolled out across the locations of Apollo Hospitals around the country, will coverage a range of topics related to depression and its incidence, screening and treatment. The program participants will also receive material such as videos, articles, quizzes and handouts for easy reference.