As I reflect on our journey with MPower over the last few years, I often find that targeted interventions through public-private partnerships can bring about enduring social change. Project Samvedna, born of such a public-private partnership with the Government of Maharashtra in India, has made mental health support more accessible to communities across the state. Between April 2023 and November 2024, the initiative engaged over 8 lakh individuals through 12,210 awareness sessions. These efforts were complemented by clinical care, more than 2,000 psychiatry consultations and 1,200 counselling sessions. This extensive outreach reflects a measured approach to mental health care in Maharashtra's rural areas.
At its core, Project Samvedna integrates awareness, early identification, and clinical care. One of the earliest insights from the project was the extent of unmet needs, as stigma often prevented individuals, especially marginalised women in lower-income strata, from seeking help. Determined to address this, the initiative began with community-level awareness sessions, gradually building momentum for more comprehensive and continuous mental health support.
Screenings at Public Health Centres (PHCs) across 32 districts followed, identifying that 6–8% of participants required immediate attention. Our journey commenced in regions such as Jalna to gauge the response of underserved communities to this initiative. In Jalna alone, more than 7,000 psychiatric consultations and nearly 2,000 counselling sessions have been conducted, reflecting the initiative's profound and tangible influence at the grassroots. By facilitating seamless connections to professional care, the initiative underscores the importance of proactive and empathetic mental health interventions that help with the reduction in self-harm and suicides.
This year, the programme expanded its footprint from operating solely in Jalna to 31 additional districts, supported by 375 volunteers and 45 fellows. Initially relying on referrals and a helpline, the programme has evolved to include outbound calls and referral tracking. Improved collaboration with district mental health hospitals and the district mental health team of the government has led to 7 out of 10 patients in some regions being referred through Project Samvedna, reflecting a growing synergy and effectiveness in addressing mental health needs.
The initiative also delivers a tangible economic benefit, enabling individuals to save between Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 8,000 annually while reclaiming approximately 130 productive hours each year. As it extends its reach across Maharashtra and into states such as Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Punjab, the programme continues to be guided by its partnership with the government, ensuring that public health priorities align seamlessly with community-driven mental health interventions of Mpower.
Through Project Samvedna and other endeavours, we have ensured that Mpower's interventions are aligned to contribute towards SDG- Goal 3 and are consistent with the WHO's Service Organization Pyramid Framework. My unwavering goal is to bridge the gap between awareness, which in turn encourages help-seeking behaviour, and treatment, enhancing crisis management capabilities. In keeping with the vision of SDG 3, we aim to "leave no one behind."