The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF) receives the Dr Guislain “Breaking the Chains of Stigma” Award for 2019
Bengaluru: The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF), a charitable trust set up in 2015 to give hope to every person experiencing stress, anxiety and depression (SAD), has been named the 2019 recipient of the Dr Guislain “Breaking the Chains of Stigma” Award. The global award, which is an initiative of the Dr Guislain Museum in Ghent, Belgium and Janssen Research and Development, LLC honors TLLLF’s efforts to change the dialogue around mental illness in India.
TLLLF was recognized for its efforts during a ceremony held in Ghent, Belgium on Friday, October 11, 2019, and will receive $50,000 to expand the scope of its work.
The foundation was selected from among a global list of nominees by a distinguished jury comprising some of the world’s leading mental health researchers and academicians.
“Over the last four years, The Live Love Laugh Foundation has worked on several initiatives with a specific focus on destigmatizing mental illness and creating awareness about mental health. This award further validates our work. At TLLLF, we believe that not a single life should be lost due to mental illness and we continue our efforts in giving hope to those struggling with stress, anxiety and depression (SAD),” said Deepika Padukone, Founder of The Live Love Laugh Foundation.
India is home to an estimated 57 million people affected by depression. The Lancet estimates that one in five Indians will suffer from depression during their lifetime.[1] India is an evolving society greatly impacted by globalization, urbanization, migration, and modernization. Coupled with ongoing and rapid socio-demographic transition, depression among individuals in India is likely to increase in the coming years.
“The Live Love Laugh Foundation has made incredible strides to raise awareness, provide resources, and support the path to mental health care for individuals of all ages in India,” said Brother Dr. René Stockman, Superior General of the Congregation of the Brothers of Charity and Chairman of the Dr. Guislain Museum. “From educating more than 100,000 students and 16,000 teachers through the ‘You Are Not Alone’ program to funding treatment for more than 1,500 patients annually, it’s important that we recognize the impact that the Foundation has made and support its continued efforts to destigmatize mental illness in India.”
“We are honored to recognize the widespread impact that The Live Love Laugh Foundation has made for people living with mental illness in India,” said Husseini K. Manji, M.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Neuroscience for Janssen Research & Development, LLC. “Their extensive work to improve the lives of individuals in India is not only inspiring but vitally important to help change the mental health dialogue and create a stigma-free society.”