Human brain on display at Nehru Science Centre to destigmatise mental illness

Mental health in India hasn’t attracted the same significance that other health issues have received

McLean Hospital, a Harvard Medical School Affiliate, in association with Nehru Science Centre, and Dr NS Vahia Foundation, has organised a seven-day exhibition and a series of lecture demonstrations on ‘Exploring Brain and Mental Health’, at Nehru Science Centre.

Parveen Pardeshi, Additional Chief Secretary Government of Maharashtra and Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra will inaugurated the exhibition.

As part of the exhibition, a specimen, as well as models of human brain, along with an exhibition of experiences of persons suffering from mental illness will be on display.

The event is a global alliance of mental health professionals, national health associations, NGOs, and other institutions. A wide range of learning sessions would include specimen and models of human brain and its working explained by experts  form McLean Hospital, hands-on activities for school children about the mysteries of the brain and sharing expertise on the subject of destigmatising mental illness.

Several other organisations will also share their expertise on ‘Destigmatising Mental Illness and Promoting Mental Health’.

The highlight for many, however, will be a human brain that has been shipped from McLean Hospital to be displayed for the seven-day-long exhibit. Experts will explain various parts of the brain to both children and adults alike and highlight what causes mental illness and what promotes mental health.

Experts in the field of mental health will organise a series of lectures open to the public that will address issues that affect the mental health of children, special children, and adults.

“Despite the high number of people who need care, mental health is something we need to focus on. I laud McLean Hospital, Nehru Science Centre, and the Dr NS Vahia Foundation, for taking up such a sensitive issue, and destigmatising it,” said Pardeshi.

“We hope that the week-long series is engaging and fruitful, and helps us in finding a way forward and helping remove the lack of awareness surrounding mental health in India,” said Dr Vihang Vahia, the son of the late Dr N S Vahia, and Chief Managing Trustee of the Dr N S Vahia Foundation.

The human brain has been central to the  primacy that humans hold in the evolutionary chain. Yet, for a long time, mental health issues in India have not attracted the same significance that other health issues have received. Fortunately, not any longer. Mental health and mental illness issues are now passionately discussed with increasing frequency in medical literature and the media.