Agents of Change Shortlist - Dr. Vishal Chaudhary - Happy Mental Health Club

Channel students' energy towards positivity and safeguarding their mental health.

Happy Mental Club was founded in October 2020 with the vision of channeling students' energy towards positivity and safeguarding their mental health during the COVID-19 lockdown. It began as an initiative to showcase the extra-curricular talents of materials science students, involving people from diverse backgrounds, and encouraging their creative expression to support mental well-being during the lockdown. Dr. Vishal Chaudhary has continued to provide online and in-person sessions focusing on destigmatizing discussions around mental health. Additionally, Happy Mental Club organized an International Conference on Mental Health, Diversity, and Inclusivity in collaboration with UN global ambassadors and various NGOs, fostering open discussions on mental health and diversity in the scientific community. To date, through this initiative and the NEAT program (Nanotechnology Education and Awareness Training), the Happy Mental Club has conducted numerous webinars, seminars, and small gatherings to promote equality and raise awareness about the stigma surrounding mental health, particularly among rural women scientists and LGBTQIA++ scientists, and other diverse groups.

Happy Mentals faces limitations within its regional scope due to financial constraints. We aim to conduct more research, particularly survey-based studies, to identify the factors influencing mental health disparities within the materials science community. To facilitate these projects and provide stipends to students who will conduct surveys in various regions, we require funding support.

Upon obtaining the research results, we intend to develop awareness programs and workshops tailored to address the specific factors identified in this research. Funding is essential to organize in-person meetings and invite diversity and inclusion experts to facilitate awareness initiatives across different regions in India. These funds will cover travel expenses, meeting costs, and other necessary expenditures to successfully conduct these awareness programs. Additionally, funding is needed to create content and materials for the awareness campaigns.