JU, Carring Minds International collaborate on seminar on suicide prevention, mental health
The Statesman | 18 September 2025The event, organised on World Suicide Prevention month, brought together leading doctors, academicians, journalists, filmmakers, and mental health advocates to deliberate on the powerful role of media, digital platforms, and the arts in shaping mental health awareness and suicide prevention.
In her inspirational keynote address Dr Minu Budhia, psychotherapist and founder, Carring Minds International, shared her personal journey of battling depression, feeling suicidal, getting help though psychiatric treatment and medication, and more. She said: “I have been someone who was almost lost in the darkness – someone who needed help. Over the years, I have found the light and become someone who can help – by providing quality mental health care services at Carring Minds International. Suicide prevention deserves not just a day or a month. It should be something we speak about every single day. Please get your loved ones the help they need.”
Prof Amitava Datta, pro-vice-chancellor, Jadavpur University, highlighted: “Students face so many types of struggles these days—especially disconnection and loneliness. Most are single children in families nowadays. Even when two friends interact with each other, they are usually also interacting on their phone screens—direct, engaged in-person interaction has reduced. JU now has a counselling centre for students and faculty to seek help. There is also a mentorship programme where 15–25 students are assigned to a teacher as a mentor.”
