Newsletter (July-September 2024)

“What mental health needs is more sunlight, more candor, and more unashamed conversations.” – Glenn Close

Greetings from Sisters Living Works (SLW)! 

Over the past few months, we’ve made significant strides in expanding our reach and deepening our impact. Here’s a brief look at our work:

Marking a Decade of Impact: 10th Annual Suicide Prevention Conference

In celebration of our 10th year and commemorating the “World Suicide Prevention Day” we aimed to make this year’s conference bigger and better than ever. Held at SNDT University, Churchgate, in collaboration with PVDT College of Education for Women, the event drew an impressive audience of more than 400 attendees, ranging from students to social workers and other professionals.

With the theme “Talk Away the Dark,” the conference encouraged open dialogue around mental health and suicide. A key highlight was a panel discussion on ‘Suicide Reporting in the Media’, featuring experts like Dr. Somil Savla, Ms. Nidhi Sharma, RJ Rani, and Ms. Neelima Naik, where the focus was on the importance of sensitive reporting and its impact on public perception. 

Presentations by Dr. Harish Shetty and Dr. Milan Balkrishnan  provided deeper insights into suicidal behavior and the need to destigmatize mental health issues in our society. Dr. Neha Shah also addressed the unique mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, offering valuable perspective on how to support marginalized communities. 

Dr. Anjali Chhabria presented on the often-overlooked issue of ‘Self-care for Caregivers’, stressing the importance of caregiver’s well-being. The event concluded with an uplifting musical performance by Sharvari Prabhu, making the day not only informative but also emotionally resonant. The conference was a significant step forward in fostering conversations on suicide prevention and mental wellness, and we are proud of its impact.

Continuing the Conversation: Mental Health Workshops Across Communities

Our commitment toward reaching communities through workshops remains strong. Over the last quarter, we’ve conducted more than 50 workshops on topics ranging from Suicide prevention and Mental health to Stress management and Parent-child relationships.

These workshops were held across schools, colleges like Don Bosco College, Nagindas Khandwala College, SNDT University, SIES College, L.S. Raheja College and many more. We also conducted workshops with organizations like Bright Future, Life Long Foundation, Udayan Care, and many. We continue to engage with diverse groups, working to create open spaces for dialogue and education on mental health.

First Responder Training Program

In August, we launched our newly upgraded ‘First Responders for Suicide Prevention Training Program’ in collaboration with Mariwala Health Initiative. The program is designed to equip community workers, educators, and counselors with the tools to address suicide-related concerns, especially in marginalized communities with limited access to professional help. This training sensitizes participants to the complexities surrounding suicide and prepares them to act as first responders in their respective communities. We are excited to have successfully completed our first batch and look forward to growing this initiative further.

Support Group

Our new offline support group have offered a safe and welcoming space for those on their addiction recovery journey at the Life Long Foundation and also for individuals affected by suicide. Over the past few months, we’ve covered a range of meaningful topics like building resilience, coping with loss, and rediscovering hope. These sessions (online as well as offline) allowed participants to share their experiences, learn from each other, and find strength in community. We look forward to continue this important work by starting more such groups  in the months ahead!

Counseling Services

Building on our work over the past three months, we’ve been offering counseling services at minimal rate to ensure affordability for all. Whether you’re facing anxiety, stress, or personal challenges, our trained professionals have been here to provide support and a compassionate listening ear. With flexible slots and a focus on creating a safe, non-judgmental environment, we’re committed to making mental health care more affordable and accessible for all.

Upcoming Events

Workshops: 

Prioritizing Mental Health on 15th October, 2024.

Understanding and Regulating Emotions on 21st October, 2024.

Support Group: 

Our next support groups are on 18th October, 6th November, and 28th November, 2024.

Survivors Day Program: 

Join us in honoring and supporting survivors of suicide on 23rd November, 2024.

Teacher’s Training Program:

We have scheduled training sessions on 13th December, 20th December, 2024, and 3rd January 2025.

Please write to us at info@sisterslivingworks.org for more details.

We have been able to continue our efforts towards reducing suicides in India because of your support and generosity!

Please generate donations for our organization just by having the Erasustain app installed on your phone. It’s a passive way to support important causes without any cost or extra effort from your side!

Sisters Living Works (SLW) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in USA and 80G, 12AB and CSR1 certified in India. Your donation is deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.​

You can also donate through our website sisterslivingworks.org using our secure PayPal or Credit Card System.

You can scan the QR code below and donate to us through UPI in INDIA.