Deepika spent a day in Tiruvallur at the launch programme. Reportedly, the launch brought together people with mental illness, their caregivers, Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and ASHA workers at Chinna Idukku village in Tiruvallur
Padukone interacted with the locals about the importance of addressing mental health, seeking the right help, and the stigma around it
Speaking to the media at the launch, the superstar said, “We decided early on into the Foundation’s journey that even if our numbers with regard to impact were small, the quality of impact is where our focus should be. Mental health is so complex that there are several things we don’t see and can’t understand. This makes us realise that there’s so much more ahead of us, and we have a long way to go"
Deepika, herself opened up about her battle with diagnosis in 2015. Ever since she has spoken in detail about her experience with mental illness at different events in an attempt to encourage people to speak up
Deepika's sister Anisha Padukone, who is the CEO of the foundation, said in a statement, "An all-encompassing programme, this will ensure equitable access to psychiatric treatment, medicines, rehabilitation support camps and vocational training through targeted interventions. As a sustainable model, we look at supporting the community for about five to seven years, and empowering them to take it forward"
After Karnataka and Odisha, Tamil Nadu is the third State where the foundation has rolled out its rural mental health programme
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