Chennai event uses theatre and art to address mental health stigma
An art festival focused on mental health awareness was held in Chennai on July 31, organised by the Schizophrenia Research Foundation (SCARF) in association with the Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University. The event served as a platform to share findings from Project PIECEs, a collaborative research programme funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), U.K., and led by Victoria Bird of Queen Mary University of London, with partners in India and Pakistan.
Former IAS officer C.K. Gariyali attended as the chief guest. Addressing the gathering, she described the centrepiece stage play, Mudiyum Mudiyathu, as moving, noting that it portrayed the pain and distress experienced by persons with mental illness and their families. The play, written and directed by Kael Theatre founder P. Jayachandran, depicted various mental health conditions and their impact on daily life. Importantly, persons with lived experience of serious mental illness also performed in the production.
R. Mangala of SCARF spoke about the responsibility of representing mental health in art. “Mainstream art often misrepresents mental illness. The stage play experience taught our team to approach mental health portrayal with sensitivity and responsibility,” she said.
The festival also included an exhibition of artworks created by persons with lived experience of mental illness. K. Poomalini, Registrar of the Tamil Nadu Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Music and Fine Arts University, also addressed the occasion.
Mental health conditions affect a significant portion of India's population, yet stigma and misunderstanding remain widespread. Initiatives that bring together art, education, and community participation aim to bridge this gap, fostering greater empathy and informed dialogue. SCARF, a Chennai-based non-profit, has long worked on research, rehabilitation, and awareness around schizophrenia and other mental health disorders. Collaborations with academic institutions and cultural bodies are part of broader efforts to integrate mental health into everyday conversations.
Project PIECEs, which stands for Partnering in Emotional Care and Empowerment for Social inclusion, investigates ways to improve social inclusion for people with severe mental illness in South Asia. The findings disseminated at this event are expected to inform future interventions and policy discussions in the region.
Events such as this highlight the role of creative expression in challenging stereotypes. By centring the voices and experiences of those directly affected, organisers hope to shift public perceptions and encourage a more supportive environment for mental health care.
