Aneesha Padukone is just as busy as her sister. deepika padukone. But what sets Anisha apart is her work in the field of mental health, especially for women, which aligns with the principles of her sister’s LiveLoveLaugh (LLL) Foundation.
A former competitive golfer, Anisha has been at the forefront of the foundation’s rural efforts professionally, while personally living her life on her own terms. healthy life. “Expanding our rural programs, exploring new programmatic interventions that align with the Foundation’s strengths, and building and developing a strong team are being considered. Outside of work, I am committed to my overall I’m trying to refocus my health, even though the holiday season can be a little irregular. routine. Therefore, I have been trying to get enough sleep, eat healthy food and exercise regularly,” Anisha said.
in a conversation with indianexpress.com Ahead of International Women’s Day, Anisha talks about her journey and the need to highlight it mental healthher most important learnings and priorities, and more.
excerpt:
question: How meaningful is it to talk about mental health, especially for women?
Anisha Padukone: Talking about mental health is very relevant and important for everyone, including women. The challenges women face are unique and can have a negative impact on their mental health.Since I was able to juggle multiple responsibilities Everything can become very difficult: work at home, work, hormonal changes in the body before and after giving birth. Often women tend to neglect their mental health due to all their responsibilities and lack of time. However, talking and sharing your feelings with a loved one, friend, or professional can help ease her burden.
question: You were a competitive golfer when the LLL Foundation was launched in 2015. So how did the transition from golf to volunteering happen?
Anisha Padukone: I wanted to contribute to mental health issues and also learn new skills in the process. Within the first few days of volunteering, I realized the magnitude of the work that needed to be done and the potential that LiveLoveLaugh had to make an impact. After a while, I started enjoying and finding value in the work I was doing and decided to quit my competitive golf career and dedicate myself completely to golf. mental health. I have been working for the Foundation for nearly eight years now.
When I first joined LLL, the organization was very young. The focus at that time was to raise funds at a time when mental health was not a priority area for most people, identify appropriate program interventions and launch pilot interventions, and ensure that appropriate organizational systems were in place. and expanding the Board of Directors. Throughout Covid-19, we faced the same challenges that most other organizations faced. Lack of funding meant we had to pivot existing efforts to be more cost-effective, but at the same time, we were able to identify needed to expand its services.
Strategy has received increasing attention in recent years. Focusing on and scaling up programs that are working well, raising funding, initiating partnerships and collaborations, and identifying and working on policy-level interventions is now part of my role at LLL. It has become an essential part.
question: What have you learned most while considering practical issues in the mental health sector in India?
Anisha Padukone: Roughly a decade ago, challenges related to mental health prompted a focus on awareness and reducing the stigma of mental illness. That may still be the case, but the focus needs to be on expanding the population base as well. mental health professional, creating access to quality care and making these services affordable. Although India is still in its infancy when it comes to mental health, progress has been made in the last decade. Acceptance and awareness of mental health is increasing. Help-seeking behavior has also increased in recent years. We must continue to build momentum and focus on building the mental health ecosystem collaboratively and collectively.
question: Would you like to share your journey and learnings as your sister’s caregiver?
Anisha Padukone: I always felt like I didn’t understand enough about mental health until I became a caregiver. I felt helpless because I lacked awareness on this subject.It wasn’t there before mental health professionalI started reading about the topic as s guided me on what to do and it was really helpful.
Although everyone’s experience may be different, my experience as a caregiver has taught me that being empathetic, understanding, and patient can be very helpful. It’s also important to create a safe space to share your feelings without judgement. Most importantly, looking after your own health as a caregiver is just as important as supporting someone with a mental illness. This is something I try to pay attention to on a regular basis.
question: What do you think about International Women’s Day 2024?
Anisha Padukone: International Women’s Day is an important day to celebrate the achievements, fortitude and resilience of women around the world. I hope all my female readers have a wonderful Women’s Day.
question: What’s next?
Anisha Padukone: My priority is to continue to contribute to the impact LLL has. mental health. We will double down on our programs, look into new areas, and support policies that help more people. I also want to continue to pay attention to my own overall health.
