GUWAHATI, May 19 - More than 80 musicians, poets, storytellers, healers, lifestyle coaches and doctors have come together through a digital campaign �ArtfulPeace Cumulative� to address mental health issues.
The campaign was launched by Storyweavers, co-founded by journalist and entrepreneur Pritisha Borthakur and advertising professional Rishi Paullah. It has been addressing mental health issues through several offline initiatives in Delhi-NCR and North East through one platform � Art After Dark � where they use performing arts as the healing element.
�Since the pandemic has brought everything to a halt and a massive rise in depression and anxiety cases has been seen of late, Storyweavers decided to continue addressing mental health with a much better and effective approach by launching digital campaign � ArtfulPeace Cumulative � wherein we are blending art, lifestyle and professional medical counselling to heal minds, and address and find answers to the problems. More than 80 musicians, poets and storytellers, healers, lifestyle coaches and doctors have come on board so far to support the cause, and went live from their official Facebook page,� said Paullah.
�Anxiety and depression have been the plague of this millennium. I have seen many close people in my life going through a lot, and however much you try and explain, it is so difficult to help the people fall into the brackets of acceptance and embrace the factual elements. Seeing the current scenario and speculating the future, we decided to give a serious thought on the mental health aspect,� he added.
The initiative kicked off on May 3 with a live performance by Delhi-based band Jazba e Junoon. Several yoga and meditation sessions, and medical counselling sessions are scheduled. Performers and speakers such as folk singer Kalpana Patowary, Bollywood singer and composer Ambar Das, Bollywood violinist Sandeep Thakur, eminent Urdu poet and artiste Kafeel Jafri, Hindi poet Mohit Mudita Dwivedi and the Sufi rock band of Coke Studio fame Zikrr, among others, have participated in this initiative to support the cause.
�One primary reason we decided to work on mental health is because I am one of the victims. I have been battling with depression for the last four years. There is no shame in admitting how one is feeling and what one is going through. The campaign ArtfulPeace Cumulative will bring the change. We plan to keep this as a continuous approach and not a time-stipulated campaign. Currently, our slots are full till June. Sansitisation and awareness are two important pillars we�re trying to address,� said Pritisha Borthakur.
