Online Events

1. ''A Pathway to Emotional Intelligence'' - Aapka Sahara in collaboration with The Finnacle Magazin

Date: 5th January, 2021. 

Time: 5 pm 

Platform: Zoom Meeting 

Event Head: Alisha Sali Speaker: Ms.Pooja Punjabi 

Number of participants: 100 

Aapka Sahara Foundation is deeply invested in the psychological well-being of senior citizens and facilitating people to get the help they need. Thus, Aapka Sahara Foundation in collaboration with the Finnacle Magazine of H. R. College of Commerce & Economics hosted “A Pathway to Emotional Intelligence” 

Ms.Pooja Punjabi is a Counselling Psychologist and Professional Therapist. She was very informative and kept the session relaxed. It was a very comfortable environment, perfect for people to learn about mental health. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people’s lives. Many people are facing challenges that can be stressful and overwhelming along with other strong emotions that may be tough to express. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19 but can make people feel isolated and lonely leading to stress and anxiety. 

Mental Health Awareness campaigns are great ways to battle misinformation and stigma. Some of the strategies undertaken to target awareness and address stigma around mental illness include participation by family members, sensitization to treatment and social inclusion. Lack of knowledge about the mental illnesses poses a challenge to people getting the help they need from trained professionals. Awareness and health literacy are two sides of the same coin. Stigma and discrimination are negative consequences of ignorance and misinformation. Mental Health Literacy is a related concept which is increasingly seen as an important measure of the awareness and knowledge of mental health disorders. Health Literacy is the ability to access, understand, and use the information to promote and maintain good health. Mental Health Literacy encompasses recognition, causes, self-help, facilitation of professional intervention and navigating the information highway. 

2. ''AIDESTIGMATISE''  Aapka Sahara Foundation in collaboration with Project XX & Rotaract Club of Medicrew 

Date: 7th January, 2021. 

Time: 5pm. 

Platform: Zoom Meeting. 

Event Head: Dhruvi Zingade. 

Speakers: Aryaa Deshpande and Niharika Gulgule. 

Number of Participants: 100. 

Aapka Sahara Foundation is dedicated to the psychological health of senior citizens and overall well-being of people. To that end, Aapka Sahara Foundation collaborated with Project XX and Rotaract Club of Medicrew to present “AIDeStigmatise”, an awareness and sensitisation webinar on AIDS. 

The transmission, treatment, stigmatisation and advocacy related to AIDS/ HIV were the topics spoken about in the session. The speakers spoke brilliantly on what HIV is, its transmission, precautions and the stigma attached to it. It was a highly informative talk about a pressing issue that needs to be spoken about more openly and accurately in India. 

 The continued presence of discriminatory and stigmatising attitudes towards HIV afflicted individuals negatively impacts both disclosure of HIV status as well as access to care and treatment. There is a pressing need to improve the knowledge of HIV transmission, and implement universal precautions across all health facilities in the state, not just to reduce stigma and discrimination but also to ensure proper infection control. In order to improve treatment adherence and encourage optimal utilisation of services, it is imperative that there is stigma reduction in India. This will improve not only the lives of people already afflicted with HIV but also society as a whole. 

3) ''AWAAZ'' Aapka Sahara in collaboration with Social & Self Awareness Club, H.R. College of Commerce & Economics. 

Date: 26th February 2021 

Time: 5:30 pm 

Platform: Zoom Meeting 

Event Head: Eshanika Mehta 

Speaker: Amanpreet Nagpal 

Number of participants: 60  

Aapka Sahara Foundation is deeply invested in the psychological well-being of senior citizens and helping people get the help they need. That is why Aapka Sahara Foundation in collaboration with the Social & Self Awareness Club of H. R. College of Commerce & Economics hosted “AWAAZ… Let the Silence be Heard”. 

 The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major effect on our lives. Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful, overwhelming, and cause strong emotions that may be difficult to express. Public health actions, such as social distancing, are necessary to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but they can make us feel isolated and lonely leading to heightened stress and anxiety. Mental health awareness campaigns are great  ways to battle misinformation and stigma. Some of the strategies undertaken to target awareness and address stigma around mental illness include participation by family members, sensitization to treatment and social inclusion. Lack of knowledge about the mental illnesses poses a challenge to people getting the help they need from trained professionals.

Awareness and health literacy are two sides of the same coin. Stigma and discrimination are negative consequences of ignorance and misinformation. Mental Health Literacy is a related concept which is increasingly seen as an important measure of the awareness and knowledge of mental health disorders. Health Literacy is the ability to access, understand, and use the information to promote and maintain good health. Mental Health Literacy encompasses recognition, causes, self-help, facilitation of professional intervention and navigating the information highway.   

 4) United Nations Report ‘WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN’ 

Date: 12th and 25th December, 2020. Time: 5 p.m. 

Location: Zoom Meeting. The recording was shared on IGTV and Facebook Videos. 

Event Head: Dhruvi Zingade. 

Panellists: Atulan Purohit, Divesh Tolani and Dr. Sangeeta Kamath

Number of participants: 15 

In association with: About 12 Girl Ups from across India including GirlUp Mumbai, GirlUpLevelUp, GirlUp Patiala, GirlUpMatsya, GirlUpKushi, GirlUp Unbound, GirlUp Neev, GirlUpAmoyan, GirlUp Kolhapur, GirlUp Guwahati, GirlUp Chandigarh. Aapka Sahara Foundation had held a panel discussion in collaboration with Girl Up, a United Nations Foundation campaign, on ‘Women Supporting Women’.  

The panel discussion had taken place on 12th December 2020. The discussion had featured distinguished panellists - Atulan Purohit and Divesh Tolani, both professional dancers, influencers and Dr. Sangeeta Kamath. OUR WORK 96 The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and form the basis for harmonizing the actions of nations. It is the largest, most familiar, most internationally represented and most powerful intergovernmental organization in the world. 

Girl Up is a campaign of the United Nations Foundation dedicated to securing equal opportunities for underprivileged adolescent girls in  developing countries such as Ethiopia, Malawi, Guatemala and India. Since Girl Up’s launch in 2010, they have partnered with the United Nations to support comprehensive programs that give adolescent girls in developing countries an equal chance for education, health, social and economic opportunities and life free from violence. A public-health approach to the prevention of behavioural and mental health conditions is instrumental in addressing mental health issues at a global level. This approach includes a range of preventive interventions spanning mental-health promotion, universal prevention, selective interventions and indicated interventions, each of which map onto different levels of risk.  The aim of the panel discussion was to inspire young women to dream, aspire and nurture an ambition in their lives. The distinguished panel encouraged the participants to become stronger mentally, given the fact that the environment around them is very often confrontational and challenging. Aapka Sahara Foundation hopes to give girls an idea on how  to manage their mental health when dealing with stressful situations in their futures. According to Antonio Guterres, Secretary General of the UN, “Mental health is at the core of our humanity. It enables us to lead rich and fulfilling lives and to participate in our communities.” Aapka Sahara Foundation believes in the same and wishes to guide people of all ages to betterment and improve their mental health. 

Dr.Sangeeta Kamath, a distinguished academic, gave an impassioned speech. She is the founder partner of Step Upp Advisors, partner of White Collar Legal LLP, Conceiver of Swaayambhu, Director of Maxplore operations and the Advisory Council Member of Maxell Foundations.  

Aapka Sahara Foundation was humbled by her taking the time to talk on the panel. Atulan and Divesh are professional dancers and influencers who share stories of their life together on social media as well as their blog ‘Honey Imm Home’. They delve into topics like the intricacies of being queer artists and fun choreographies that are incrediblely uplifting performances. Their story has been featured on Official Humans of Bombay and has touched the hearts of many. 

The event was a highly enthusiastic and interactive session. The enigmatic duo spoke about their journey and the hardships they faced and  how they dealt with them. The free and frank approach of the panellists in sharing their life’s journey was the highlight of the event. Atulan spoke about his experience in dealing with mental issues and how seeking help was the most important decision he took.  

They constantly stressed how vital and normal it is to seek help and about time that society doesn’t shame people for it. Keeping the topic of women empowerment in mind, they beautifully described the value and respect they hold for all women in their life and how women shape the people in their life. The enthusiastic participants listened to the panellists and engaged with them via the chat box, asking them questions and appreciating their efforts and valour. 

It was indeed an honour to host such a free and frank discussion with our panellists. The event was a great success with the panellists as well as the audience having had an informative as well as entertaining time. 

5) ''CHOOSE YOUR CHANGES'' 

Date : 27th May, 2020.

Time : 5:00 pm 

Platform : Aapka Sahara Foundation’s Instagram Live 

To commemorate Mental Health Week, a Live Online Therapy Session was organised by our Foundation. When life is all about possibilities, we need to be wise about the choices we take and the changes we want to make. ‘What we can change and what we cannot’ was an informative motivational workshop, guiding people to choose their changes in the most enlightened and conscious manner possible. 

We all need help to process our emotions in a healthy manner and to seek information from the right sources is the best way to deal with problems. One must be able to take the first step of recognising one’s setbacks and then subsequently, tackling them in the most effective way possible. 

In light of this, Aapka Sahara Foundation in collaboration with Ms. Amanpreet Nagpal, a leading Counselling Psychologist and Motivational Coach, conducted an enlightening sesion to shed some light on efficient methods to adapt to changes while being positive to maintain a balance in life. 

6) ''PITCH PLEASE'' 

Date: 13th to 17th July 2020 

IETE TSEC in association with Aapka Sahara Foundation proudly provided a platform for one to express their views on how the world can handle the myriad of problems spearheaded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants could speak on any problem that he/ she thinks has arisen due to the COVID – 19 pandemic and presented a report on how to appropriately combat it. The contest was judged by Aapka Sahara Foundation as effectively as possible with the widerange of ideas being shared to be implemented. The top three contestants received prizes for their outstanding views. 

7) ''A MILE FOR YOUR SMILE''

Date : 15th June, 2020 

“I am here for you”. These five words can boost someone’s confidence in recognising their poor mental health.  It helps create a safe space for one to be able to express their personal drawbacks without any fear of judgement. These five words can alleviate mental stress, anxiety and depression.  

These words have the power to provide reassurance to the person in need of mental assistance. Aapka Sahara Foundation launched a new segment “A Mile for your Smile”, a community of listeners who have come together in unity for their people. It aims to provide such a nonjudgemental platform not focusing solely on talking about the problem but also finding an effective solution. 

8) ''CONTROVERSIAL PATHSHALA'' 

Date : 24th June, 2020 

Platform : Zoom

There’s awareness, but that is not enough for mental health. What one needs is a solutionbased approach as an extension to this awareness. In light of such sentiments, Aapka Sahara Foundation teamed up with Controversial Pathshala to initiate a highly interactive session for the purpose of creating awareness, which a recent incident has increased evermore. The objective was to listen to the many ideas put forward on how to tackle mental illnesses and adopt the most compatible approach to one’s own mental health. 

9) ''CHAI TIME WITH RCTSEC'' 

Date : 15th July, 2020 

Time: 6pm Platform : Instagram Live 

Our esteemed founder, Anubhav Bansal had joined the Rotaract Club of TSEC wherein they interviewed him on Aapka Sahara Foundation and its principles. He further enlightened the audience on his journey to the inception of the Foundation and his goals for the future. The event took place on the Rotaract club of TSEC’s Instagram Live. The audience gained an insight into the foundation, its objectives and the work done to combat mental illnesses.  

10) ''TIPS FOR GOOD MENTAL HEALTH''

Date : 20th July, 2020 

Time : 12 pm Platform : Youtube 

Aapka Sahara Foundation collaborated with ‘Got Nothing Else To Do’ on their podcast and engaged in a discussion with Amanpreet Nagpal, a counselling psychologist and motivational coach, as the first guest for the The SeeSaw Project - A podcast series involving a rigorous back and forth about the incidents they see occuring around them. 

11) ''THE BIOSCOPE: MIND''

Date : 10th October 

Time : 11 am Topic : Power- Use or Abuse 

Platform : Zoom 

‘It’s not what your destination is but how you drive; mental health is not a destination but a process.’ On Mental Health Awareness day, our collaboration with Umang presented an insightful discussion on realising the potential of one’s inner power and how to unleash and channel it in the most effective manner possible. 

12) UMANG - Official Mental Health Partner 

Date : November, 2020 

Aapka Sahara Foundation was the Official Mental Health Partner of Umang 2020. Aapka Sahara Foundation aided Umang in conducting several Mental Health, Sound Therapy and Dance Therapy Sessions.. The Foundation was immensely grateful for this enriching collaboration. 

13) UNDERSTANDING SENIOR CITIZENS AT OLD-AGE HOMES

 Date : 16th November, 2020 

Time : 4 pm 

Speakers : Eshanika Mehta and Anushka Khurana 

Aapka Sahara Foundation hosted a fun, interactive and extremely informative session on Understanding Senior Citizens at Old-Age Homes and Mental Health. For this occasion, the Foundation had collaborated  with Purnkuti, an NGO with a goal to deliver change and enthusiasm just as much as our own Foundation’s strive towards it. Our CEO, Eshanika Mehta spoke on this important topic along with Anushka Khurana from Purnkuti. 

14) ''PATRIARCHY'' and its effects on Mental Health

Date : 25th October, 2020 

Platform : Instagram Live 

Time : 6 pm 

Speaker : Amanpreet Nagpal 

Aapka Sahra Foundation was delighted to collaborate with Girl Up Mumbai, to present “Patriarchy and its effects on Mental Health’’. Amanpreet Nagpal, a renowned Psychologist, motivational coach, hypnotherapist, Access Bars Practitioner and Tarot and Angel Card reader was our speaker, who spoke knowledgeably on the topic. 

15) ''DISABLED AND NOT A LABEL''- (story) – handicapped people- with Umang - Sound Therapy 

Date : 6th November, 2020 

Disability is a matter of perception. ASF was proud to have collaborated with RC Caduceus International Service to present ‘Disabled and not a Label’. It was a series of on-field Medical Camps conducted for the Disabled. A session of Sound Therapy was conducted. This form of therapy uses aspects of music to improve physical and emotional health along with overall well-being.