Is Mental Health More Than a Medical Issue? | Sachin Barbde | Azim Premji University Conversations

Is mental health only about diagnosis and treatment, or is it shaped by the social conditions in which we live? In this conversation, Mukta Gundi, faculty at Azim Premji University, speaks with Dr Sachin Barbde, a public health practitioner working with Adivasi communities in Jharkhand, about rethinking mental health through a community-led approach. Drawing on years of experience, they explore how livelihoods, social support, stigma, community participation and psychosocial care play a crucial role in mental well-being, challenging conventional biomedical approaches to mental health. The discussion also highlights innovative community-led initiatives, including the Duku Suku support groups, peer facilitators and locally rooted approaches that promote recovery, dignity and inclusion for people living with mental health conditions. #MentalHealth #CommunityMentalHealth #PublicHealth #PsychosocialSupport #Adivasi #Jharkhand #MentalWellbeing #AzimPremjiUniversity