The Cyclothon was followed by an interactive session by Humanitarian Aid Worker, Carl Wilkens.
New Delhi:
World Mental Health Day is celebrated every year on October 10. This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) is campaigning on the theme “Making mental health for all a global priority”. To spread awareness of mental health, a 30 km cycling rally, called Cyclothon, was held in Delhi today. The event was organized by ADRA India, in association with V4A Cycling & Running Club. Around 30 participants from different walks of life rallied for the cause.
Around 30 participants from different walks of life rallied for the cause.
The cyclothon was followed by an interactive session by Carl Wilkens, humanitarian aid worker, storyteller and international speaker. Mr. Wilkens shared his experiences while living in Rwanda during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994. He spoke about how Rwanda rebuilt and reinvented itself after the genocide “The Rwandan experience really inspired me to look at how the brain works… Neural plasticity says we can change our brains simply by the choices we make. Simple practices, like keeping a gratitude journal, can move us in the direction of healing,” she said.
A 2017 Mental Health Burden Study in India revealed that one in seven Indians were affected by mental disorders of varying severity. Despite the high prevalence of mental health problems in India, the subject remains taboo due to lack of awareness. People dealing with mental health problems also face social discrimination, causing them not to talk about their problems or seek professional help.
The burden of illness and mental health problems has increased further since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent closures. The pandemic has been challenging for people due to various reasons such as loss of loved ones, loss of employment and income, isolation, increase in domestic violence, etc.
“On behalf of my cycling and athletics group, I thank ADRA India for organizing Carl’s talk on the occasion of World Mental Health Day. I found it so aligned with our goal of being mentally fit and de-stressed by rewiring our brain and guiding it positively through group fitness activities. I hope that Cyclothon will not only raise awareness of the important issue, but participants will also instill this learning in their lives,” said Syed Asim, Founder, V4A Cycling & Running Club, Delhi .
“We should aspire to apply the lessons of the past to our modern way of thinking and learn to love in a more complete way. Thinking in this new way will improve our mental health entirely,” said Weston Davis, country director for ADRA India after the talk.
Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) India is a development and humanitarian organization. ADRA India focuses on key aspects of development such as health care, education, livelihoods, humanitarian and emergency response, and protection of vulnerable groups. ADRA India is working with Assam’s tea garden communities to provide psychosocial support and counseling to marginalized people coping with the stress and aftermath of COVID-19.
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