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WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY

On World Mental Health Day, DAIS Vice- Chairperson Mrs. Isha Ambani Piramal welcomed U.S. Surgeon General Dr.
Vivek Murthy for an inspiring Fireside Chat with our Head Girl, Avantika Kampani, and Saahil Gurbuxani, Head of
Student Wellbeing Taskforce from the American School of Bombay. As part of his nationwide initiative, Dr. Murthy
visited our school to spread awareness about the growing mental health challenges faced by young people and to
encourage open, honest conversations around well-being.
He elaborated on the pressures students face today, in addition to social media usage and the feeling of isolation. He
emphatically stated that mental health is often overlooked, even though it is the core of everything we do. He
pointed out that young people often struggle to even name what they are feeling — and without that first step, it is
hard to ask for help. He encouraged all students to work toward breaking down the stigma, so mental health can be
talked about just as freely as physical health. Avantika and Sahil spoke about the importance of creating school
environments where young people feel supported, safe, and understood. Dr Murthy strongly suggested that
gratitude and meditation have great effects mental well-being. Dr. Murthy’s powerful message left a strong impact
on students. He ended the session with the words: “Nurture your relationships, spend time with loved ones, and find
purpose in serving others.” We couldn’t have asked for a more befitting way to commence Mental Health Day.

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