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Monday, March 18, 2019

#AtoZChallenge #MentalHealthAwarenss Theme for 2019



This is my 5th consecutive year at #AtoZChallenge, what I love the most here is the sharing of knowledge and creation of quality intellectual property.



My previous themes have been:







This time I have chosen MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS as my theme.

Though May is the month for mental health awareness, I thought April would be a good time to talk about it and at a widespread global platform like A to Z Challenge. 

Mental Health is one of the four pillars of health and in our part of the world still riddled with deep stigma, taboo and lack of awareness. 

Being a depression survivor myself and also an Oesteoid Oesteoma and Fibromyalgia survivor,both Chronic Invisible Illnesses that have huge mental heath implications, I think it is time we start building safe and non-judgmental spaces in India to talk about mental health.

I think it was only appropriate that I use my blog and the platform of #AtoZ to speak about mental health and contribute in my own small way towards awareness.




In 2015 a study conducted by the Word Health Organization indicated that one in five Indians may suffer from depression in their lifetime, equivalent to 200 million people.

Intentional Self harm (Suicide) is the second most common cause of death in population with in the age group of 15 to 29, and one of the top ten causes of death among the general population of India.
Due to the stigma associated with mental illness, a lack of awareness, and limited access to professional help, only 10-12% of these sufferers will seek help.There is a huge need to sensitize and educate people about the signs and symptoms of mental illness and normalize the idea of seeking support for themselves and their loved ones.




You can sign up here for the  A to Z Challenge if you are a blogger.

Or you can bookmark this blog as a reader to be my companion on this journey!


41 comments:

  1. What a beautiful theme this is, Pooja! I'm glad you decided to write on this topic. Looking forward to reading your posts. Happy A to Z :)

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    1. Thanks Shalini, looking forward to some awesome co-learning

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  2. A very important topic, Pooja. Coming from someone who has been throught it and come through it, it is sure to be more insightful.
    Mayuri

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    1. Thanks Mayuri, yes shared information becomes knowledge. Thanks!

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  3. This truly is an important topic. My youngest brother, who died 2 years ago, had spent most of his adult life of 40 years in institutional surroundings. It was tough for all of the family to deal with.

    Hope your blog posts have a far reach.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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    1. So sorry for your loss Arlee, believe me in this part of the world it is even tougher. Your constant support and guidance has always meant much as a mentor at A to Z. Thanks a lot!

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  4. This is really a topic we all can do with reading and talking more about, Pooja. I am looking forward to your posts. Good luck!

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  5. What a lovely theme Pooja. The world needs to talk about this every day. Of of the most misunderstood topics for a layman to understand the depth of it.

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    1. Thank you so much, I do not know how much it will be possible to explore the depth of the topic bit we can certainly begin conversations around it.

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  6. So glad you have chosen this important theme, Pooja. I look forward to visiting during the Challenge. All the best!
    Josna

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    1. Thanks Josna, yes it is topic close to my heart.

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  7. A very important theme! Let's fight the stigma! Looking forward to this.

    The Multicolored Diary

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  8. This is such an important topic that needs a LOT of awareness. I am looking forward to read your posts. All the best, Pooja!

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  9. That is a very important theme, kudos to you for tackling a topic that needs discussion! All the very best.

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  10. This is an extremely relevant topic in the prevailing times. Would love to keep a track of your posts.

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    1. Thanks The Novice Soul, would love to receive feedback

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  11. I'm so glad that you chose to write about this Pooja. Knowing you, I am sure that you are going to enlighten the world about a topic that really needs to be discussed. Looking forward to your posts this April.

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    1. Thanks Sonia for having so much faith in me, hoping to hear from you frequently here.

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  12. This is a wonderful theme. Really the need of the hour.
    Noor Anand Chawla

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  13. A powerful theme to explore during April - looking forward to your posts.

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  14. A topic we all need to discuss frankly! The stigma attached to mental illness needs to be wiped out completely, else there will be so many lives getting ruined.
    Looking forward to reading your posts, Pooja!

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  15. YES!!! I WILL be following your posts in April for sure. I am an AFSP committee for Suicide Prevention and Mental Health awareness. I am so interested in what you have to share. Much love.

    Entertaing Interests

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  16. This is such an important topic. I chose it for A to Z in 2016 too. I didn’t know there’sthis much stigma in India though, so thanks for raising more awareness.

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  17. Third time attempting to comment. Since I am a fellow mental health survivor and covered this topic on A to Z in 2016, I would like to encourage you on it. It’s such an important topic.

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  18. Great theme. My theme is also on the same but only for children. Lokking forward to reading your posts.

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    1. That's great Shubhr....let us co-learning.thanks!

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  19. I would love to read more on this subject. Looking forward to reading your posts on Mental Health Awareness, Pooja. Wish you the best with A2Z challenge this year

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  20. This is such an important topic which needs to be spread to the masses, I will be following up your posts. All the best for April!

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  21. Fantastic Theme. We need to talk about this more. Looking forward to it.

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  22. My debut in this Challenge was only last year, though I have been blogging and writing otherwise for a long long time. I have decided on my theme finally.
    Yours is a very relevant one especially nowadays. Looking forward to reading your posts.

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