As a society, our knowledge and understanding of mental health and mental illness are relatively new. Though the discipline of psychology has made great advancements in understanding mental illness, one of the reasons that it is categorized in social sciences and not the natural or empirical sciences is that there are no laws in psychology. In fact, a growing body of knowledge suggests that mental health is a social construct and that it is significantly influenced by the subjective human experience and well-being. It is not surprising then that a lot of mental health organizations in India, and across the world, practice in different and unique therapeutic environments.
Gather Nurture Connect (GNC), unlike most other mental health organizations in the country, views mental health as a socially constructed phenomenon, shaped not only by biology and genetics but also by the environment in which an individual is positioned. We believe that there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach in this field and each individual has specific needs that must be catered to at an individual and subjective level. This is why, GNC offers a holistic approach to mental health, tackling it at various levels and activating individuals’ highest possible potential to help them achieve holistic well-being.
The Social Level
The first level, at which Gather Nurture Connect works, is the universal, societal level, in which the organization looks at the meaning of mental health and shares its views on different public fora. Going beyond the limiting nature of mental health statistics in the country and the world, Gather Nurture Connect looks at the social conditions in which mental health issues develop. It tackles issues of gender stereotyping, heteronormativity, difference, belonging and otherness, cooperation, and much more. By keeping an eye out for the social mores that may lend to the development of conditions not ideal for well-being, GNC attempts to create mental health awareness at a universalized level.
The Interpersonal Level
A lot of what we experience in this world is through our interactions with the world and individuals in it. Interpersonal relationships, therefore, have a strong impact on mental health. Whether these interactions or relationships occur in educational institutions, professional organizations, businesses, neighborhoods, communities, or intimate social circles, each has a lasting impact that influences both our day-to-day lives and our experience of life in general. GNC provides an empowering space in which interpersonal relationships can be evaluated, addressed, and honed. The GNC community is one such space where tolerance and respect for difference are held paramount and individuals learn to interact with each other in meaningful and empowering ways.
The Individual Level
No mental health platform can be successful without looking at the individual at a personal level. After all, it is the individual’s experience of the world that shapes their life, mental health, and overall well-being. Since well-being is the ultimate objective towards which GNC works, tackling the internal mental and emotional mechanics of an individual in a way that makes them more amenable to the challenges of the world outside. GNC offers several different services in this regard because we believe that taking charge of one’s own self can help individuals become more flexible and resilient in the face of a complex external environment. GNC accomplishes this by helping individuals self-activate. Through several different cooperative and participative techniques, including Empathy and Intuition Based Therapy (EIBT), Project Arc, and a range of tailor-made workshops to help remove mental and emotional blockages, GNC guides individuals to perform important inner work that would eventually help them self-activate.
So, by tackling mental health on three different levels, GNC attempts to not only heal the individual but the society and the world. The organization’s ultimate vision is to create a world where each individual feels safe to be themselves because we believe that this is the only way to a compassionate, caring and healthy society.
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