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In a meaningful step toward improving mental health access in rural India, The Live Love Laugh Foundation—founded by Deepika Padukone—has partnered with Bisleri International for a three-year CSR initiative. The collaboration aims to expand and strengthen a community-based mental health programme in Chhindwara.
The programme, which began in early 2023 in the Sausar block, has already made steady progress. Starting with outreach in 60 villages, it has now grown to cover over 130 villages, supporting nearly 1,600 individuals. Recently, the initiative extended into the Bichua block, bringing mental health services to dozens more villages and helping people living with mental illness access care and support closer to home.
What makes this initiative stand out is its grassroots approach. Instead of relying solely on external systems, the programme focuses on building awareness within communities, identifying mental health concerns early, and ensuring access to treatment. It also empowers caregivers and trains local volunteers, creating a support network that can function independently over time.
The involvement of Bisleri International adds both scale and sustainability to the effort. With its CSR backing, the programme is expected to deepen its reach across the district while strengthening systems that encourage long-term community ownership. The goal is not just to provide temporary assistance, but to create a self-sustaining model where communities actively participate in supporting mental well-being.
Mental health often remains overlooked in rural areas due to stigma, lack of awareness, and limited access to resources. This initiative directly addresses those challenges by normalizing conversations around mental health and making care more accessible at the grassroots level.
Over the years, the Live Love Laugh Foundation has expanded similar programmes across multiple states, including Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, impacting thousands of individuals and their families. Their work combines awareness campaigns, structured support systems, and community engagement—bridging the gap between need and access.
This partnership reflects a larger shift in how corporate social responsibility is being approached in India—moving beyond one-time efforts to long-term, impact-driven collaborations. By investing in mental health at the community level, initiatives like this are not only improving individual lives but also fostering more resilient and informed societies.
As the programme grows in Chhindwara, it stands as a reminder that sustainable change begins at the grassroots—with awareness, empathy, and collective effort leading the way.
