Festival Agenda

Day 1, 26th October

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Auditorium 1

Inauguration:

Chief Guest:

Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, (Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India)

In the presence of:

1. Rohini Nilekani (Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies)
2. Dr Pratima Murthy (Director, NIMHANS)
3. Prof LS Shashidhara (Centre Director, National Centre for Biological Sciences)

11:15 AM to 12:15 PM

Auditorium 1

Prevention is Better Than Cure

Speakers:

1. Nachiket Mor (Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health)
2. Dr Vidita Vaidya (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)

Moderator:

Jahnavi Phalkey (Science Gallery Bengaluru)

11:15 AM to 12:15 PM

Auditorium 2

Understanding ADHD

Speakers:

1. Dr Eesha Sharma (NIMHANS)
2. Dr Divya Nallur (Amaha Mental Health Centre)

In conversation with:

Menaka Raman (Author & Podcast Producer)

11:15 AM – 12:45 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 1

Nurtured Through Nature

Facilitators:

1. Priyanka Prakash (Nature Conservation Foundation)
2. Suhirtha Muhil (Nature Conservation Foundation)
3. Pavitra Vasudevan (Dakshin Foundation)

11:15 AM – 12:45 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 2

Founder Burnout

Facilitators:

1. Rishabh Lalani (Kohmorehbee)
2. Vishal Talreja (The Cocoon Initiative)

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Auditorium 1

Mental Health and the Margins: Queerness and Systemic Realities

Speakers:

1. Ragamalika Karthikeyan, Independent Journalist
2. Sathiya G, Advocate at Sathiya & Sanjesh Law
3. Divya Kandukuri, Founder at The Blue Dawn
4. Bhairavi Prakash, Founder at Mithra Trust

Moderator:

Rahel, Mental Health Practitioner at Mithra Trust

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Auditorium 1

Spotlighting Women’s Mental Health

Speakers:

1. Dr Prabha Chandra (NIMHANS)
2. Dr Divya Nallur (Amaha Mental Health Centre)

Moderator:

Amrita Tripathi (The Health Collective India)

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Auditorium 2

Towards a Dementia-Friendly Society

Speakers:

1. Dr Thomas Issac (Centre for Brain Research, IISc)
2. Dr Sivakumar (NIMHANS)
3. S. Premkumar Raja (Nightingales Medical Trust)
4. Dr Radha S. Murthy (Dementia India Alliance)

Moderator:

Ramini Sundaram (Dementia India Alliance)

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM

Auditorium 3

Challenging Norms: Gender Socialisation and Men's Mental Health

Speakers:

1. Nilotpal Kumar (Azim Premji University)
2. Dhruva Ithal (Amaha Mental Health Centre)
3. Aparna Uppaluri (Gender and Health Expert)

Moderator:

Shreelatha Rao Seshadri (Public Health Foundation of India)

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 2

Creating an Ensō

Facilitator:

Sarika Gulati (Arts Based and Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner)

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Screening Room, 1st Floor

Life Flows On - A film screening on Global Dementia Challenge and Elderly care

1:00 PM – 2:30 PM | Workshop

Outdoor

Theatre and Mental Health

[Aagaaz Theatre Trust]

1:00 PM -2:30 PM | Workshop

Indoor

Public-Patient Involvement in Research

[NIMHANS]

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM

Auditorium 1

Tune into Self: Music and Mental Health

Speakers:

1. Dr Shantala Hegde (NIMHANS)
2. Praveen D Rao (Musician)
3. Preema John (Indian Music Experience Museum)

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM

Auditorium 2

Suicide: Role of Lived Experience in Changing the Narrative

Speakers:

1. Dr Anish V Cherian (NIMHANS)
2. Dr Nandini Murali (Project SPEAK)

Moderator:

Nelson Vinod Moses (Suicide Prevention India Foundation)

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM

Auditorium 3

The Exposome, Brain Development and Vulnerability to Mental Illness

Speaker:

Dr Vivek Benegal (NIMHANS)

In Conversation with:

Vanessa D'souza (SNEHA)

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 1

Utilising Public Spaces for Promoting Mental Health Conversations

Facilitators:

1. Dr Meena K S (Mental Health Education Department, NIMHANS)
2. Dr Mohan Sunil Kumar (Augmenta Health)
3. Dr Sharmitha Krishnamurthy (Augmenta Health)

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 2

The Sandwiched Generation

Facilitators:

1. Pooja Pande (Writer)
2. Ruchita Shah (Fabulous Midlife Club)

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Auditorium 1

Understanding Addiction: The Science and Human Stories Behind It (Performance and Expert Interaction)

Speakers:

1. Dr Narasimha (NIMHANS)
2. Dr Nandhini (NIMHANS)
3. Ms Ashwathy (NIMHANS)
4. Dr Gitanjali (NIMHANS)
5. Dr Shreedevi (NIMHANS)
6. Dr Arun Kandasamy (NIMHANS)
7. Dr Eesha Sharma (NIMHANS)
8. Ms Bala Chauhan, (Journalist, The New Indian Express)
9. Ms. Shalini, (IT Professional)
And team (NIMHANS)

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Auditorium 2

Invisibilisation of Mental Disabilities

Speakers:

1. Smriti Rana (Pallium India)
2. Vidya Sastry (Caregiver)
3. Rohan Gupta (IIT Madras Alumni Association)
4. Prasanna Shirol (ORD India)

Moderator:

Mrinalini Ravi (Aaladamara Foundation & The Banyan)

2:45 PM – 4:00 PM

Auditorium 3

Living with Pain: Mental Health and Chronic Illness

Speakers:

1. Dr Preethi Jain
2. Dr Vishal Rao (HCG Cancer Center)
3. Dr Narasimhaiah Srinivasaiah (Apollo Hospitals)

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 1

Laugh, Heal, Repeat: The Art of Medical Clowning

Facilitator:

Sheetal Agarwal (Clownselors)

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 2

Inclusive Cities: Legal Frameworks for Mental Health, Disability Support and Community Living

Facilitator:

Manmayi Sharma (Vidhi Center for Legal Policy)

4:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Auditorium 1

Keynote:

1. Rohini Nilekani (Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies)
2. Rahul Dravid (Cricketer & Former Coach - Indian National Cricket Team)

In conversation with:

Nikhil Taneja (Co-Founder, We Are Yuvaa)

6:15 PM – 7:45 PM

Auditorium 1

Kathi Kathi Kaarana: A Film Screening & Discussion

6:15 PM – 7:45 PM

Auditorium 2

The Vibes Are Off: What's Plaguing Gen Z?

Speakers:

1. Anshul Tewari (Youth Ki Awaaz)
2. Neeru Malhotra (Pravah)
3. Kevin Lee (We Are Yuvaa)

6:15 PM – 7:45 PM

Auditorium 3

What Does the Caregiver Need? Perspectives from Lived Experience

Speakers:

1. Pallavi Chander (Foundation for Arts and Health India)
2. Kavya Murty (Foundation for Arts and Health India)
3. Mohini Singh (Foundation for Arts and Health India)
4. Dr Jayant Mahadevan (NIMHANS)

Moderator:

Maitri Gopalakrishna (Foundation for Arts and Health India)

Day 2 - October 27

11.00 AM – 12.00 AM

Inauguration

11.00 AM – 12.00 PM

Auditorium 2

Campus Cares: Mental Health and Higher Ed

Speakers:

1. Manisha Dhawan (Aikyam Foundation & The Convergence Foundation)
2. Reddy Subrahmanyam (Former Secretary of Higher Education and Social Justice, GoI)
3. Dr Ajit V Bhide (Psychiatrist)
4. Prof L S Shashidhara (National Centre for Biological Sciences)

Moderator:

Dr Arvinder Singh (Ashoka Centre for Well-Being, Ashoka University)

11.00 AM – 12.00 PM

Auditorium 3

Sports, Physical Activity and Mental Health - The Psychology, Physiology and Sociology of Wellbeing

Speakers:

1. Dr Hemant Bhargav (NIMHANS)
2. Swetha Subbiah (Sisters in Sweat)
3. Dr Veena Mani (UL Research)
4. Disha Musaddi (Sport and Exercise Psychologist)

Moderator:

Nandan Kamath (Sports and Society Accelerator)

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 1

Shabd: Expressions through Poetry

Facilitators:

1. Pragnya Nagarhalli (Slam Out Loud)
2. Sourav Roy (Anjuman)

11:00 AM – 12:30 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 2

Outlive - Suicide Prevention

Facilitator:

Sanjana Jain (Sangath)

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Auditorium 2

Digital Mental Health: Hit or Miss?

Speaker:

Soumya Choudhary (NIMHANS)

In conversation with:

Leena Reghunath (Senior Journalist)

12:15 PM – 1:30 PM

Auditorium 3

Reel vs Real: The Changing Representation of Mental Health in Indian Cinema

Speakers:

1. MK Raghavendra (Freelance Film Critic)
2. Andre Jaime Borges (Pocket Aces)
3. Apoorva Arora (Artist)

Moderator:

Kashmira Patil (Civic Studios)

12:45 PM – 2:15 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 1

Creatures Talking: Clay Modelling and Storytelling Around Mental Health

Facilitator:

Rucha Dhayarkar (Artist)

12:45 PM – 2:15 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 2

Know Your Case

Facilitators:

1. Dr Shilpa Karvande (Foundation for Medical Research & KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune)
2. Dr Vasudeo Paralikar (Foundation for Medical Research & KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune)
3. Vidula Purohit (Foundation for Medical Research & KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune)
4. Dr Shalaka Chatorikar (Foundation for Medical Research & KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune)
5. Dr Manjiri Datar (Foundation for Medical Research & KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune)

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Auditorium 2

The Art of Ageing

Speakers:

1. Dr Mathew Varghese (St John’s Hospital)
2. Maitri Gopalakrishna (Foundation for Arts and Health India)
3. Pallavi Chander (Creative Arts Therapist)
4. Jimmy Xavier (Caregiver, Voice and Theatre Artist)

Moderator:

Jwala Narayanan (Cognitve Neurology Clinic)

1:45 PM – 2:45 PM

Auditorium 3

Teen Drama: Adolescents and Parenting

Speakers:

1. Dr Ajit V Bhide (Psychiatrist)
2. Arya Cheruvatath (Student, Xth Std.)
3. Sachit Anand (Student, XIth Std.)

Moderator:

Vikram Bhat (Bangalore International Centre)

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Screening Room, 1st Floor

Life Flows On - A film screening on Global Dementia Challenge and Elderly care

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Auditorium 2

Mental Health in Humanitarian Crises

Speaker:

Farhat Mantoo (Médecins Sans Frontières)

In conversation with:

Gautam John (Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies)

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Auditorium 3

Mental Health and the Margins: Queerness and Systemic Realities

Speakers:

1. Ragamalika Karthikeyan (Queer Journalist)
2. Sathiya G (Queer Lawyer)
3. Divya Kandukuri (The Blue Dawn
4. Bhairavi Prakash (Mithra Trust)

Moderator:

Rahel (Queer Mental Health Practitioner)

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 1

From Safe Space to Acting with Courage

Facilitators:

1. Sanyukta Saha (Aagaaz Theatre Trust)
2. Jasmine (Aagaaz Theatre Trust)

2:30 PM – 4:00 PM | Workshop

Workshop Space 2

Public-Patient Involvement in Research

Facilitators:

1. Anushka Banerjee (Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain & Mind, NIMHANS)
2. Kadambari Patil (Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain & Mind, NIMHANS)
3. Dr Reeteka Sud (Rohini Nilekani Centre for Brain & Mind, NIMHANS)

Festival Agenda

Day 1, 26th October

Inauguration:

Chief Guest:

Ms. Punya Salila Srivastava, (Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India)

In the presence of:

1. Rohini Nilekani (Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies) 2. Dr Pratima Murthy (Director, NIMHANS) 3. Prof LS Shashidhara (Centre Director, National Centre for Biological Sciences)

Prevention is Better Than Cure

Speakers:

1. Nachiket Mor (Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health) 2. Dr Vidita Vaidya (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)

Moderator:

Jahnavi Phalkey (Science Gallery Bengaluru)

Understanding ADHD

Speakers:

1. Dr Eesha Sharma (NIMHANS) 2. Dr Divya Nallur (Amaha Mental Health Centre)

In conversation with:

Menaka Raman (Author & Podcast Producer)

Nurtured Through Nature

Facilitators:

1. Priyanka Prakash (Nature Conservation Foundation) 2. Suhirtha Muhil (Nature Conservation Foundation) 3. Pavitra Vasudevan (Dakshin Foundation)

Founder Burnout

Facilitators:

1. Rishabh Lalani (Kohmorehbee) 2. Vishal Talreja (The Cocoon Initiative)

Mental Health and the Margins: Queerness and Systemic Realities

Speakers:

1. Ragamalika Karthikeyan, Independent Journalist 2. Sathiya G, Advocate at Sathiya & Sanjesh Law 3. Divya Kandukuri, Founder at The Blue Dawn 4. Bhairavi Prakash, Founder at Mithra Trust

Moderator:

Rahel, Mental Health Practitioner at Mithra Trust

Spotlighting Women’s Mental Health

Speakers:

1. Dr Prabha Chandra (NIMHANS) 2. Dr Divya Nallur (Amaha Mental Health Centre)

Moderator:

Amrita Tripathi (The Health Collective India)

Towards a Dementia-Friendly Society

Speakers:

1. Dr Thomas Issac (Centre for Brain Research, IISc) 2. Dr Sivakumar (NIMHANS) 3. S. Premkumar Raja (Nightingales Medical Trust) 4. Dr Radha S. Murthy (Dementia India Alliance)

Moderator:

Ramini Sundaram (Dementia India Alliance)

Challenging Norms: Gender Socialisation and Men's Mental Health

Speakers:

1. Nilotpal Kumar (Azim Premji University) 2. Dhruva Ithal (Amaha Mental Health Centre) 3. Aparna Uppaluri (Gender and Health Expert)

Moderator:

Shreelatha Rao Seshadri (Public Health Foundation of India)

Creating an Ensō

Facilitator:

Sarika Gulati (Arts Based and Dance Movement Therapy Practitioner)

Life Flows On - A film screening on Global Dementia Challenge and Elderly care

Theatre and Mental Health

[Aagaaz Theatre Trust]

Public-Patient Involvement in Research

[NIMHANS]

Tune into Self: Music and Mental Health

Speakers:

1. Dr Shantala Hegde (NIMHANS) 2. Praveen D Rao (Musician) 3. Preema John (Indian Music Experience Museum)

Suicide: Role of Lived Experience in Changing the Narrative

Speakers:

1. Dr Anish V Cherian (NIMHANS) 2. Dr Nandini Murali (Project SPEAK)

Moderator:

Nelson Vinod Moses (Suicide Prevention India Foundation)

The Exposome, Brain Development and Vulnerability to Mental Illness

Speaker:

Dr Vivek Benegal (NIMHANS)

In Conversation with:

Vanessa D'souza (SNEHA)

Utilising Public Spaces for Promoting Mental Health Conversations

Facilitators:

1. Dr Meena K S (Mental Health Education Department, NIMHANS) 2. Dr Mohan Sunil Kumar (Augmenta Health) 3. Dr Sharmitha Krishnamurthy (Augmenta Health)

The Sandwiched Generation

Facilitators:

1. Pooja Pande (Writer) 2. Ruchita Shah (Fabulous Midlife Club)

Understanding Addiction: The Science and Human Stories Behind It (Performance and Expert Interaction)

Speakers:

1. Dr Narasimha (NIMHANS) 2. Dr Nandhini (NIMHANS) 3. Ms Ashwathy (NIMHANS) 4. Dr Gitanjali (NIMHANS) 5. Dr Shreedevi (NIMHANS) 6. Dr Arun Kandasamy (NIMHANS) 7. Dr Eesha Sharma (NIMHANS) 8. Ms Bala Chauhan, (Journalist, The New Indian Express) 9. Ms. Shalini, (IT Professional) And team (NIMHANS)

Invisibilisation of Mental Disabilities

Speakers:

1. Smriti Rana (Pallium India) 2. Vidya Sastry (Caregiver) 3. Rohan Gupta (IIT Madras Alumni Association) 4. Prasanna Shirol (ORD India)

Moderator:

Mrinalini Ravi (Aaladamara Foundation & The Banyan)

Living with Pain: Mental Health and Chronic Illness

Speakers:

1. Rohini Nilekani (Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies)
2. Dr Pratima Murthy (Director, NIMHANS)
3. Prof LS Shashidhara (Centre Director, National Centre for Biological Sciences)

1. Nachiket Mor (Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health)
2. Dr Vidita Vaidya (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research)

1. Dr Eesha Sharma (NIMHANS)
2. Dr Divya Nallur (Amaha Mental Health Centre)

1. Priyanka Prakash (Nature Conservation Foundation)
2. Suhirtha Muhil (Nature Conservation Foundation)
3. Pavitra Vasudevan (Dakshin Foundation)

1. Rishabh Lalani (Kohmorehbee)
2. Vishal Talreja (The Cocoon Initiative)

1. Ragamalika Karthikeyan, Independent Journalist
2. Sathiya G, Advocate at Sathiya & Sanjesh Law
3. Divya Kandukuri, Founder at The Blue Dawn
4. Bhairavi Prakash, Founder at Mithra Trust

1. Dr Prabha Chandra (NIMHANS)
2. Dr Divya Nallur (Amaha Mental Health Centre)

1. Dr Thomas Issac (Centre for Brain Research, IISc)
2. Dr Sivakumar (NIMHANS)
3. S. Premkumar Raja (Nightingales Medical Trust)
4. Dr Radha S. Murthy (Dementia India Alliance)

1. Nilotpal Kumar (Azim Premji University)
2. Dhruva Ithal (Amaha Mental Health Centre)
3. Aparna Uppaluri (Gender and Health Expert)

1. Dr Shantala Hegde (NIMHANS)
2. Praveen D Rao (Musician)
3. Preema John (Indian Music Experience Museum)

1. Dr Anish V Cherian (NIMHANS)
2. Dr Nandini Murali (Project SPEAK)

1. Dr Meena K S (Mental Health Education Department, NIMHANS)
2. Dr Mohan Sunil Kumar (Augmenta Health)
3. Dr Sharmitha Krishnamurthy (Augmenta Health)

1. Pooja Pande (Writer)
2. Ruchita Shah (Fabulous Midlife Club)

1. Dr Narasimha (NIMHANS)
2. Dr Nandhini (NIMHANS)
3. Ms Ashwathy (NIMHANS)
4. Dr Gitanjali (NIMHANS)
5. Dr Shreedevi (NIMHANS)
6. Dr Arun Kandasamy (NIMHANS)
7. Dr Eesha Sharma (NIMHANS)
8. Ms Bala Chauhan, (Journalist, The New Indian Express)
9. Ms. Shalini, (IT Professional)
And team (NIMHANS)

1. Smriti Rana (Pallium India)
2. Vidya Sastry (Caregiver)
3. Rohan Gupta (IIT Madras Alumni Association)
4. Prasanna Shirol (ORD India)

1. Dr Preethi Jain
2. Dr Vishal Rao (HCG Cancer Center)
3. Dr Narasimhaiah Srinivasaiah (Apollo Hospitals)

1. Rohini Nilekani (Chairperson, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies)
2. Rahul Dravid (Cricketer & Former Coach - Indian National Cricket Team)

1. Anshul Tewari (Youth Ki Awaaz)
2. Neeru Malhotra (Pravah)
3. Kevin Lee (We Are Yuvaa)

1. Pallavi Chander (Foundation for Arts and Health India)
2. Kavya Murty (Foundation for Arts and Health India)
3. Mohini Singh (Foundation for Arts and Health India)
4. Dr Jayant Mahadevan (NIMHANS)

1. Manisha Dhawan (Aikyam Foundation & The Convergence Foundation)
2. Reddy Subrahmanyam (Former Secretary of Higher Education and Social Justice, GoI)
3. Dr Ajit V Bhide (Psychiatrist)
4. Prof L S Shashidhara (National Centre for Biological Sciences)

1. Dr Hemant Bhargav (NIMHANS)
2. Swetha Subbiah (Sisters in Sweat)
3. Dr Veena Mani (UL Research)
4. Disha Musaddi (Sport and Exercise Psychologist)

1. Pragnya Nagarhalli (Slam Out Loud)
2. Sourav Roy (Anjuman)

1. MK Raghavendra (Freelance Film Critic)
2. Andre Jaime Borges (Pocket Aces)
3. Apoorva Arora (Artist)

1. Dr Mathew Varghese (St John’s Hospital)
2. Maitri Gopalakrishna (Foundation for Arts and Health India)
3. Pallavi Chander (Creative Arts Therapist)
4. Jimmy Xavier (Caregiver, Voice and Theatre Artist)

1. Dr Ajit V Bhide (Psychiatrist)
2. Arya Cheruvatath (Student, Xth Std.)
3. Sachit Anand (Student, XIth Std.)