The Banyan launches Keshav Desiraju Lived Experience Repository

In an effort to preserve first-person narratives of people with mental illness, Chennai-based mental health service NGO, The Banyan, and the Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) launched the Keshav Desiraju Lived Experience Repository here on Saturday.

The repository is named after former Union Health Secretary Keshav Desiraju, who is feted for his contributions to India’s mental health policy. The repository will include narratives of persons with mental illness in all formats — from comic books to podcasts.

“When you tell a story, the most important thing is emotional authenticity and honesty to ensure that it is intact. The story then can be told in different forms,” filmmaker Mani Ratnam said, answering a question on the filmmaker’s role in maintaining authenticity and sensitivity when sharing someone else’s story. He was speaking during a panel discussion on Stories, Art and Care.

Speaking about retaining authenticity in filmmaking, production designer and artist Aradhana Seth said the key thing is to observe the small things and not to overdramatise mental illness.

‘People are more open’

In recent times, there has been a shift towards mental health through self-help books. People are more open about their experiences. The books that get published in the space get a good response from the public, said Gautam Padmanabhan, business head, Westland Books.

Lived experience expert, The Banyan, Srividya, said such books in the repository motivate others.

“People with mental illness are not seeking sympathy or just medicines. Motivation, encouragement or work at some stage will help a lot,” she said.

Lived experience expert at The Banyan, Kavipriya, added: “Today too, scientific temper regarding this sector is still low. People with mental illness are still being misled in seeking help; that should change.”

On the occasion, two illustrated books were released — Jothi, illustrated by Deepti George, and Waggy Tales, written by Arundhati and illustrated by Anushka Madhavan, which join the repository.

Jacklin & Amali, a comic by Rega Jha and Anushka Madhavan, was also re-released.