Mpower Reaches 7M, Championed by Neerja Birla to Normalize Mental Health in India
Neerja Birla, wife of Kumar Mangalam Birla, the chairman of the Aditya Birla Group, has been championing mental health awareness through her initiative, Mpower. Since its inception in 2016, Mpower has reached a staggering 180 million people and directly supported over 7 million beneficiaries. Birla, a mental health advocate, emphasizes the importance of mental well-being for India's progress.
Mpower aims to normalize conversations about mental health and promote early intervention. It targets schools, workplaces, and rural communities, making mental health support accessible to all. The initiative is part of the Aditya Birla Education Trust's (ABET) broader mission to invest in inclusive education, women's empowerment, and healthcare.
India faces a significant mental health challenge. Half of Indian women grapple with chronic stress, with young women aged 18-39 accounting for over a third of all female suicides. Nationwide, nearly 150 million people struggle with stress, anxiety, and depression, but less than a quarter actively seek help. This untreated mental illness could cost India trillions of dollars in lost output by 2030.
Birla, the founder and chairperson of ABET, underscores the critical role mental health plays in India's progress and prosperity. Despite the vast treatment gap, with a severe shortage of trained professionals and insufficient public funding, initiatives like Mpower strive to fill these gaps and promote mental well-being across the country.
