Actor-turned-producer Ali Fazal has always tried to advocate the need to look after one’s mental health. While experts believe that resolving mental health concerns start with accepting and acknowledging a problem, the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns have taught us that there is a crying need for infrastructure and understanding to deal with mental health issues that are only escalating with time. In his bid to combat this concern, Ali has roped in medical professionals to conduct a series of free online panel discussions. The objective is to address the need across various groups, as mental health and its treatments could vary drastically depending on age groups, professions and other factors. Talking about these sessions, which will start in a few days, the actor says, “As a nation, we must start learning from this experience. It all starts withreaching out and acknowledging. That’s the core of mental health. For example, now and at all times, we need to be more empathetic towards doctors, nurses, and all other front-line workers because the trauma they’re facing on a daily basis is bound to take an enormous toll on their mental health tomorrow.”
Through these sessions, Ali and the team of doctors plan to reach out to frontline workers, children, and those who are treating and taking care of COVID patients. They will also have sessions for those who were COVID-19 positive and are now on their road to recovery. The actor explains, “Mental health is something that doesn’t work on the concept of one-size-fits-all. Hence, in my initiative, the aim is to help them be aware of various groups and sections of societies that need provisions of mental health and to give them the necessary help and support for it.”
Talking about what inspired him to join forces for this initiative, which a few of his therapist and psychiatrist friends were already discussing, Ali says, “What has driven me at the base level is the fact that I have experienced mental health concerns within close family circles. As a child, I had seen both my parents go through mental health issues, which was considered the thing that one doesn’t speak about. We saw the world going topsy-turvy and the pandemic coming for us in the last two years. My grandpa passed away recently, we had two-three COVID cases in the family, and my uncle could not even be there for the final rites. Even in this insurmountable loss, I find myself in a position of privilege. Bahar kya ho raha hai? Ek hi din mein kisi bacche ke dono parents guzar gaye, kisike paas chhat nahi hai, kisike jawaan bacche shikaar ho gaye iss marz ke. There’s so much pain. We all say that it’s a war against COVID, and we have to win it. But we need to take a moment to think of what war brings with it. There is going to be major PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) that will set in.”
The actor says that he was aware that holding one session wouldn’t be of help, but he knew a couple of therapists and doctors in Mumbai and UP who were planning to do a series of chats online. He shares, “I am no expert, but I have joined hands with them. I may not be in every discussion, but I will lend it my online space and try to be there as often as possible. It’s a weekly exercise that we plan to do for a prolonged period. Addressing and resolving mental health issues should be a collective effort. We may find cures and vaccines for the virus, but we will have to learn to live with the grief.”
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