Mental Health Educationist, NIMHANS, Bangalore, Counselling Psychologist (Sensitive Groups), Teacher and Author, Echoes of a Rebellious Mind (Collection of Poetry with an aim to disseminate Mental health Lessons )
About Jigyasa Tandon
Jigyasa Tandon hails from a reputed lawyer family who chose not to follow the family-defined path but craft her own life in psychology and mental health education. She is a Trained Mental Health Educator from NIMHANS, Bangalore, and a Counselling Psychologist with expertise in dealing with on-filed, grass-root level, and sensitive groups. Her areas of expertise are media psychology, applications of psychological principles in the legal field for reformation and better management of judicial stakeholders, suicide prevention and management with mental health difficulties, she is currently designing a skill-based program for expanding Indian society’s capacity for dealing with mental health problems and suicide prevention under the name-
Peer for Prevention suiting the needs and holistic nature of Indian society. This would be a one-of-a-kind effort in India as we are currently adapting foreign elements of psychology which are leading to a divide in the society leaving the user confused. S/he then runs for the certificate and not knowledge. She feels the culture of social group/society plays a fore-ground role in understanding the needs, emotional regulation, well-being, thoughts, the behavior of an individual. Also, we exist in the dual reciprocal relationship than in isolation, thus it is important to feel belonged and connected to something in life
She has the diverse working experience to be a teacher to a counselor with Juvenile Justice Board -II, Feroza Kotla, Delhi Legal Aid Services Authority, Patiala House, Legal Aid, Delhi High Court, Saket Court (Women Cases), Sexual Protection Society, DAV Schools, top schools in Delhi.
She has been an active Resource Person for many colleges pan-India and taken many special sessions, workshops, online programs and is a youth mentor to many helping them transform lives. On an academic front, she has been part of Delhi University, Panjab University, Chandigarh, YMCA, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore (NIMHANS). She has presented papers and her vision of mental health reformation in India in conferences across India and published papers too. Some of her papers are in pipeline to be published.
At present she has finished her tenure with Ramjas School, New Delhi-110005 as PGT Psychology with a good result of 95% and Mental Health First Aid India, Chennai and is an MHFAider for Suicide Prevention and Workplace. She ran a successful campaign with them — My Piggybank of Hopes for World Suicide Prevention Month and Has contributed articles to the space. Besides this, she active mental health writer at platforms like Psychologs , Youth ki Awaaz, Times of India, Vigyaa.com. National Express, YourQuote, etc. and have been featured in various YouTube videos, news, and newspapers.
Through her organization, PSY-FI: For a Healthy Mind, she has curated and executed projects which have impacted over 10000 + people. She has made use of art, writing, theatre, Flash mobs, freeze Mobs, talk seminars, remedial education projects, media, etc. to communicate the importance of mental health in life. She has been invited as resource person Pan- India i.e. Delhi, Chandigarh, Gujarat, Bangalore, Mumbai, etc. Her lectures and therapeutic intervention have made a difference to society.
She further expanded the organization and initiated projects like JIGSAW COMMUNITY, PSYCHO-LAW-GY, CONTENTIFY, GRIEVANCE MEDIATION CELL FOR MENTAL HEALTH FIELD, COUNSEL ROOM, HAPPY EDUCATION PROJECT (remedial support classes for government school students till 5th std who show signs of psychological issues and illness). Her latest and more prominent projects introduced in 2019 and had been growing since then is –
- PEER FOR PREVENTION- Empowering Approach To Mental Health Management At A Layman Level- A Capacity Building Training At Varied Human Developmental Level And Human as a part of the Society Level.
2. MAN-O-POWER — VALUE ADDING COURSE On Mental Health Education and Intention to Volunteer As A Team Member In Mental Health While recognizing The Role Of Other Allied Fields With Mental Health Like Law, Literature, Etc.
3. AWAAZ — An Open Mic Forum — Where we create a safe space and allow people to carry the feeling of safety home. It was a platform for expressing art in any form- poetry, opinion-sharing, dance, talking of your work, contribution towards mental health, etc.
4. Unenveloped Humans: An Human Library Approach- Here people who have battled struggles and made a mark in society come and talk with each other to help each other as a community and not be just booked to be read.
5. Unpause Self- An initiative for colleges to generate awareness about oneself by sitting with oneself and doing activities that help them understand themselves better.
5. Project Mamta: A Partnership ( PSY-Fi: For a Healthy Mind ) with Legal Aid, Delhi High Court, Patiala House, Delhi and Tihar Jail (Jail №5 18–21 years male UTs and Convicts) for Counselling, Development of Life-skills and Socio-emotional growth of Individuals as Humans and not Labels dawned upon them. During this tenure, have worked with Mohd. Aamir Khan was framed as a terrorist at the age of 14 due to a lack of police responsibility and personal bias towards a particular religion being responsible for ‘terrorism and criminal activities.
Other recent Projects Include 2021:
1. Classically Unconditioned :
ü A series of interactions between individuals coming from similar and allied fields to come together and just talk and listen to thoughts and discuss:
Opportunities to explore
Widening Area of Interest
More than Clinical Work
Internships
coupled with self — enlightening activities and much more
It’ll be more than just slapping information and understanding where people are coming from than giving generalized discussions.
The intention has been simple to develop and promote mental health +ve community. Her research papers, articles, stories are delightful to read for people for understanding the complexities of human behavior. She believes in promoting raw talent and support Indian Initiatives for Betterment.
She has been at various leadership positions and won accolades for the same for her work of dedication and reformation has set the platform for change to smoothen the process. To name a few, she is President, Delhi Human Values Council, WICCI 2021–22. She has won Noam Chomsky Excellence Award in Psychology and Effective Community building for Reformatory Changes in Mental Health and Allied Fields by Redpond Educational and Psychological Research Centre, Madurai, India. She has received special acknowledgment on the Global Youth Education Platform organized by Akanksha Trust and Youth Opportunities. She was a principal member in organizing in India’s First and World’s Second Walking tour of a Mental Health Institute to deconstruct the idea of mental health treatment — Stories Against Stigma- organized by the Department of Mental Health Education, NIMHANS Bangalore. Moreover, she is the mastermind behind the initiative of bringing Spoken Word Poetry and Open Mic Culture in NIMHANS, Bangalore by the Department of Mental Health Education and has conducted several since then. She has closely worked on projects as a curator, mentor, and executor to projects with the Department of Mental Health Education, NIMHANS, Bangalore like Certificate in Mental Health Education, Tobacco Use, Suicide Prevention, Media, and Mental Health, Nursing training in Mental Health Education among others.
She has been received a special invite or worked with by Justice Gita Mittal Former Chief Justice of Jammu And Kashmir High Court, Chairperson of Broadcasting Content Complaints Council (BCCC), Hon’ble (Mr.) Justice Manmohan, Delhi High Court, New Delhi, Tihar Jail ( Jail no.5), School of Sustainable Development, India, by Dr. Sanjeev (P) Sahni, Principal Director, Jindal Institute of Behavioural Sciences (JIBS); Director, Centre of Victimology and Psychological Studies, Shishir Sharma (Actor), Chandan Anand (Writer, Actor), Manisha Kelkar ( Marathi Actor, Anchor, and Formula 4 Racer), Ankur Dobriyal ( Senior Video Producer, Scoopwhoop), Sumit Tharran ( Former Cinematographer and Video Producer at 9X Media), Department of Mental Health Education, NIMHANS, Bangalore, Surat Global Shapers Community, Delhi University, Krupa Nidhi Group of Institutes among many others.
In past, she has been the recipient of NSS BEST STUDENT — 2013–14, Out Reach Community Campaign Head, NSS (Many of her projects have got newspaper recognition and speaks of societal difference), Meritorious Alumni Award, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College for Women, Delhi University, Founder President, Spandhan, Psychology Association, Department of Psychology among the rest.
She can always be identified with a chai, laptop, phone (notes section) and indie music do something only she knows what. Or buying jewelry and Indian sarees and ethnic wear from Delhi/Bangalore Hubs. She has a wholesome desire to be recognized as Indian and serve India through Mental Health.
A special mention to my team, who have been a constant support.
