Ananya, the founder of Hiraeth, started this organisation because she saw how mental health was considered a joke in her daily life and how many people were oblivious of it for a long time. The lack of awareness has lead to a stigma for mental health in the society where people usually see one having mental health ailments from a negative perspective which makes it harder for the person to open up and seek help.
Mental illness can affect anyone and being a student herself, she knew how hard teenage years can be. For example the huge amount of assignment and exams can lead to immense stress and anxiety. This is something which should be considered as a serious issue yet it is ignored by the society. Therefore the idea of hiraeth came in her mind - an organisation, a place where one could feel safe, validated and comfortable. An organisation that wants to make people aware of how serious mental health is so that the person suffering with some mental illness does not feel alone and discarded by the society.
Hiraeth means a homesickness to a home that doesn't exist. We ensure that you find that home in our community. A community where you can be your true self, where you can relate and be understood and feel comforted and welcomed. Hiraeth is home, hiraeth is you.
We, as a team, want to spread awareness and enlighten people about mental health and provide everyone a safe place. We aim to help people know the possible signs of mental illness so they can help their loved ones and themselves and opt for treatment as soon as possible. We intend to make everyone understand the importance of a good mental health and help them achieve it. Apart from that we want to influence the academic institutions and associations to educate themselves, their staff and their members about the importance of mental health of the future and the working force of a country.
At the tender age of 14, she discovered and explored the field of mental health and the different types of mental ailments that people go through. She was bothered by the taboo of mental health in our society and that become the inspiration to open an organization to spread as much awareness as she can for mental health.
After putting a lot of thought and energy, she found the right team - trustworthy and compassionate people who are willing to contribute their time and energy in spreading awareness about the issue; a group of people who will support her in this journey and start the creation of her dream organization.
2021 bought her to this stage where she shared her idea with her parents who supported her dreams as they knew how much invested she was in being an advocate for mental heath and providing a safe community from the past three years.
Therefore, she gathered some of her most trusted people and created Hiraeth.
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India