Actor and Founder of The Live Love Laugh (LLL) Foundation, Deepika Padukone has been appointed as the first-ever ‘Mental Health Ambassador’ by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW). This is a historic step taken by the Ministry towards creating a more supportive mental health ecosystem in India.
“Working with Ms. Deepika Padukone will help us spread awareness about mental health issues in India to a wider audience, normalize conversations around mental health issues to reduce stigma, and reinforce mental health as part of public health,” said Shri J.P. Nadda, Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare on the occasion.
“I am deeply honoured to serve as the first-ever Mental Health Ambassador for the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has made significant strides in prioritizing mental health care. I look forward to working closely with the Ministry to build on this momentum and further strengthen our nation’s mental health framework,” said Deepika Padukone.
As part of this new effort, Padukone will work directly with the Ministry to:
- Advance awareness of mental health and de-stigmatisation initiatives;
- Encourage help-seeking behaviour and promote preventive action;
- Champion Tele MANAS (Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States), and other governmental mental health programming and resources;
Padukone will also engage with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the development of other targeted interventions that promote equitable access to mental health care. This appointment comes as The Live Love Laugh Foundation, Padukone’s charitable foundation, completes 10 years of service and impact.
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