IIT Bombay welcomed US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, to its Powai campus on World Mental Health Day, marking a significant step in recognizing the importance of mental health and well-being within its campus community, particularly for its students. Dr. Murthy is the first US Surgeon General of Indian descent and one of the most trusted voices in public health in the world today, for a compelling conversation on mental well-being, titled “Mind Matters for Well-Being”. The event, held at the Victor Menezes Convention Centre, brought together students, faculty, staff, and alumni to explore the importance of mental health and the power of human connection in addressing loneliness and isolation.

Dr. Murthy, currently serving as the 21st US Surgeon General, is a renowned physician, research scientist, and bestselling author of Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World. As Vice Admiral of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, he leads over 6,000 public health officers who serve some of the world’s most vulnerable populations. Throughout his career, Dr. Murthy has championed mental health as an integral part of overall well-being, addressing critical issues like youth mental health, healthcare worker burnout, and social isolation.

The event began with a welcome address by Institute Director, Prof. Shireesh Kedare, who was joined by other IIT Bombay dignitaries including:

– Prof. Milind Atrey, Deputy Director
–  Prof. K.V. Krishna Rao, Deputy Director
–  Prof. Ravindra Gudi, Dean ACR

In his address Prof. Kedare highlighted the Institute’s commitment to the emotional and psychological well-being of its students, stating, “As educators and mentors, the Institute plays a pivotal role in shaping not just the intellectual growth of students, but also their emotional and psychological well-being. Creating a supportive environment where open dialogue around mental health and loneliness can thrive will be of great help.”

The director’s address was followed by a fireside chat that featured Dr. Murthy and Ms. Ira Khan, Founder and CEO of the Agatsu Foundation. Agatsu is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to mental health and well-being. Having lived with clinical depression since the age of 18, Ms. Khan was formally diagnosed in 2019. Her personal experience with mental health fuels her advocacy and leadership in the field. The Agatsu Foundation reflects Ms. Khan’s vision of a holistic, nurturing, and preventative approach to mental health care. She firmly believes that mental health is more than mental health disorders. It’s about fostering overall well-being.

During his chat, Dr. Murthy, drew from both his personal and professional experiences, and emphasized the need for a cultural shift in how we view mental health. “Today is World Mental Health Day. My hope is that one day in the future, there won’t be a need for Mental Health Day because we will see it for what it is—a part of our overall health and just as important as our physical health,” he said.

Dr. Murthy vividly recollected his battles with mental health and added, “I think back to my own life because as a child I struggled with my own mental health but never felt comfortable telling anyone about it. it. Because I was ashamed and I thought something was broken inside of me. I could tell someone if I had a broken ankle or hurt my back but I didn’t dare tell them if struggled with my mental health. And that prolonged my suffering. While I knew my parents loved me, I never quite felt comfortable talking to them about this. So I can’t go back and redo my childhood but what Ira and I want is to pull the curtain back on this issue so that more and more people can see mental health for what it is and feel comfortable talking about it more openly and feel more comfortable asking for help.”

The conversation between Dr. Murthy and Ms. Khan touched on the complexities of mental health, the importance of building supportive communities, and how institutions like IIT Bombay can play a pivotal role in addressing these issues. Dr. Murthy’s expertise, combined with Ms. Khan’s advocacy, provided the audience with a profound understanding of the importance of prioritizing mental well-being in everyday life.

This event at IIT Bombay underscored the Institute’s commitment to fostering holistic student development and solidified its role as a thought leader in addressing critical issues like mental health. By creating a platform for meaningful dialogue with global voices like Dr. Vivek Murthy and mental health advocates like Ms. Ira Khan, IIT Bombay is paving the way for a future where emotional well-being is prioritized as much as academic and professional success. The conversation sparked today serves as a call to action for institutions and individuals alike to champion mental health and build more empathetic, supportive communities.