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Coffee, Cinema and Community: Redefining Mental Health
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Brain Awareness Week aims to foster public enthusiasm and support for brain science through education and awareness. Our week long program, held from July 15th - 21st. 2024 included book talks, art exhibitions, film discussions and learning about the history of NIMHANS, encouraging Bengaluru residents to learn & talk about mental health and neuroscience research.
July 15 | Tour of NIMHANS with
the Director
The tour offered an insightful experience, including a guided visit through various parts of NIMHANS to learn about its history and groundbreaking research, led by the Director of NIMHANS, Professor Pratima Murthy. High school students from Gopalan International School interacted with our scientists, engaged in activities and paid a visit to the renowned Brain Museum.
July 17 | "Mindscape and Landscape: An Illustrated History of NIMHANS" by Dr. Sanjeev Jain, Emeritus Professor, NIMHANS
At this insightful book talk, Dr. Sanjeev Jain, eminent psychiatrist and author, delved into the rich history of NIMHANS and provided a captivating overview of the institution's journey and its significant contributions to mental health research and care, as detailed in his book.
July 20 | Through the Looking Glass: Artistic Perspectives on Mental Health
Artists from all across India harnessed their artistic skills to express their feelings about mental health. Art and photographs were displayed at the Neurobiology Research Centre at NIMHANS, and visitors also got a chance to go home with postcards of the artwork.
You can view the artwork displayed at our exhibit on the right → (click to enlarge)
July 20 | Mental Health & Movies -
The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
In this thought-provoking fireside chat on the representation of mental illnesses and health in movies our panellists comprising filmmakers (Vrinda Samartha, Suneel Raghavendra), mental health professionals (Dr Suhas Satish), and film bloggers (Dr Basundhara Ghosh) examined the impact of cinematic portrayals on public perception and stigma surrounding mental health issues, through a screening of clips from popular Indian films and engaging discussions with the audience. The talk was moderated by Anmol Tikoo.
The discussion will be available on YouTube soon.
July 21 | Stories in Motion: Mental Wellness through Art and Narratives by Dr. Ankit Dwivedi
Our participants experienced the power of storytelling in understanding mental health with Dr. Ankit Dwivedi, a professional storyteller and researcher. This interactive workshop explored the nuances of mental health using engaging storytelling and community building, helping participants gain a deeper appreciation for the human experiences behind mental health challenges.
Brain Awareness Week is a global campaign aimed at increasing public awareness of the progress and benefits of brain research. This annual event unites the efforts of organisations worldwide in promoting the importance of brain health.
This event was sponsored by the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) and Dana Foundation Brain Awareness Week Grant, in association with the Department of Mental Health Education, NIMHANS, Bengaluru and the Centre for Brain and Mind - National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru. We thank our venue partners, the Bangalore International Centre and AttaGalatta.
Coordinators: Anushka Banerjee & Kadambari Patil | Organisers: Dr Reeteka Sud, Dr Biju Viswanath, Dr YC Janardhan Reddy, Dr Meena KS, Dr Ranjana Sarma & Shatabdi Pal | Designer: Sukriti Chordiya