With one in seven Indians living with varying degrees of mental health conditions and a substantial treatment gap, social campaigner and motorcycle rider Seher Hashmi is traversing the country on a 58-day expedition to raise awareness about mental health and tackle the stigma associated with seeking help. Madurai: With one in seven Indians living with varying degrees of mental health conditions and a substantial treatment gap, social campaigner and motorcycle rider Seher Hashmi is traversing the country on a 58-day expedition to raise awareness about mental health and tackle the stigma associated with seeking help.Addressing reporters at the Madurai Press Club on Wednesday, Hashmi and her team said India’s mental healthcare system continues to face serious resource and accessibility challenges.According to figures cited by them, less than 1% of the country’s total health budget goes towards mental health services, while an estimated 70% to 92% of those requiring mental healthcare do not receive it. Social stigma, fear of discrimination and inadequate availability of local mental health facilities were cited among the major reasons for the treatment gap.Against this backdrop, Hashmi launched Beyond the Horizon: A Ride for Resilience, a 7,000km-plus motorcycle journey aimed at encouraging open conversations about mental health and timely professional help. The expedition, flagged off in Delhi on August 20, will cover more than 50 cities and conclude on October 15.The campaign plans more than 100 interactive sessions in schools, colleges and youth forums, directly reaching around 12,000 to 13,000 youngsters. Awareness material on coping strategies and crisis helplines is also being distributed in nine languages.
