Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, launched Swasti, a health and well-being initiative, with the aim of improving awareness and promoting positive health and well-being, on 25^th September, 2017. Swasti aims at working collaboratively with various schools, colleges, institutes, organisations and the public to deliver a range of educational programmes, presentations and interactive forums on mental health and well-being.

“Depression: Let’s Talk” is the theme of the World Health Organisation (WHO) for 2017 and “Mental Health in the Workplace” is the theme for the World Mental Health day this year, October 10, 2017. The launch of Swasti is based on the theme of mental health as there is “No health without mental health”. The aim is to raise the awareness and profile of health and well-being.

Sri. Mankombu Gopalakrishnan, the well known lyricist, poet and script writer, inaugurated the launching of Swasti, and Swami Purnamritananda Puri, General Secretary, Mata Amritanandamayi Math, gave the benedictory address. Cine actor, Meera Vasudevan, launched the social media website of Swasti and spoke on “Reel Life and Real Life: Perceptions and Perspectives on Mental Health”. Commissioner of Income Tax, Dr. Jayasankar Neelakantan IRS unveiled the Swasti logo and delivered the key note address and the music composer and sound designer, Sri. Dhevesh, recited the poem Swasti. 

Dr. Prem Kumar Nair, Medical Director, Amrita School of Medicine; Dr. (Col) Vishal Marwaha, Principal, Amrita School of Medicine; Dr. U. Krishnakumar, Director, Amrita School of Arts and Sciences, Kochi; Dr. Sanjeev K. Singh, Medical Superintendent, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr. Valsraj Menon, Additional Medical Superintendent, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr. Kesavankutty Nayar P. C., Head of Psychiatry Department, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr. Gitanjali Natarajan, Head of Clinical Psychology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences; Dr. Aswathy S., Professor of Community Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, and Bri. Sai Bala, Nursing Director, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, spoke on the occasion. Students of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham performed various programs based on the subjects of mental health to improve public understanding of mental health and delivered on-going activities on health and well-being.