Seven persons were honoured with the Sundram Fasteners Fellowships for Mental Health Action at an event organised by The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health. Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests, is seen in the photo.

Seven persons were recently honoured with the Sundram Fasteners Fellowships for Mental Health Action at an event organised by The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM).

According to a press release, the event, which marked a decade-long partnership between Sundram Fasteners Limited and BALM, brought together mental health practitioners, researchers and advocates from across the country to recognise innovative approaches to mental healthcare delivery, particularly for marginalised communities.

Supriya Sahu, Additional Chief Secretary, Environment, Climate Change and Forests, who presided over the award ceremony, emphasised the crucial role of partnerships in transforming the mental health sector.

The seven awardees, representing five States, were recognised for their groundbreaking work in different aspects of mental health care. The fellowship programme, which was established in 2019, aims to bridge the severe shortage of mental health professionals in India. It has supported 20 fellows since its inception, working across domains including community-based service provision, systems-level reform, and research. Recipients receive financial support ranging from Rs. 1.2 lakh to Rs. 4.8 lakh per year, the release said.

Lakshmi Ravikanth, executive director of BALM said, “What distinguishes this initiative is its recognition that sustainable change involves collective insights and cultural strengths of diverse stakeholders and care approaches.”