Mpower aims to drive awareness for suicide prevention with #EarForYou

On account of World Suicide Prevention Day, which was on September 10, 2017, Mpower launched an online campaign – ‘EarForYou’ – encouraging every person to listen and save a life. 

Mpower (Aditya Birla Education Trust) is the brainchild of Neerja Birla, which champions mental health causes, creates awareness, advocates prevention and provides services through a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach. Through a rich network of individuals, professionals and organisations, Mpower aims to end the stigma and encourage dialogue around mental health. 

Issued in Public Interest, the #EarForYou campaign draws attention to a serious concern in society, presently – suicide prevention. The campaign kicked-off with an online video that depicts a brother trying to reach out to his elder sister. The video portrays the brother sharing his mental stress and turmoil through a letter and his sister frantically hoping that his brother hasn’t taken any drastic steps. To her relief, he has not taken such steps and is instead reaching out for help. Everyone is not quite so lucky, to see the signs and ask for help, so the video urges us all to listen for the signs. It could save a life. 

Watch the video:
https://youtu.be/5br57zunMEk

Speaking on the launch of this campaign, Neerja Birla, Chairperson and Co-founder, Mpower Minds, said, “Nobody is ever alone. Through the #EarForYou campaign, we want every person to pledge their support and help for those who are seeking it. Not just today, but every day – there is somebody out there to listen to you. This can save lives and prevent the alarming increase of suicides in India. At Mpower we strongly believe in stamping out stigma by increasing awareness, promoting acceptance, and concurrently working towards bridging the large treatment gap prevalent in India. Mpower is listening and willing to help. So should you.” 

While it is important to pay attention to the small hints and signs of problems that someone around you might display, it is equally important to lend an ear and “listen” to the person who is calling out to you for help. With this premise, the #EarForYou movement is driving people to pledge their support to prevent suicides in India. 

The #EarForYou initiative will run through the month of September across social media and digital platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The campaign invites everyone to take the pledge to be available to listen to other people and assist them in seeking help. In addition to pledging your support, Mpower is inviting stories of resilience and courage to be shared on their blog – https://mpowerminds.com/share-story.php .These stories will encourage others to overcome their own internal battles. 

Through a rich network of individuals, professionals and organisations, The Mpower Center and The Mpower Foundation by the Aditya Birla Education Trust aim to end stigma and encourage dialogue around mental health. The Mpower Centre offers consultation to families and other practitioners by providing an outreach that helps in identifying severe or complex needs that require more specialist interventions, assessment, treatment and training. It comprises of primary mental health workers, psychologists and counselors working in GP practices, paediatric clinics, schools and youth services. There is a multi-disciplinary team providing a specialised service for children and adolescents with more severe, complex and persistent disorders. 

Campaign credits: 

Produced by: Mpower

Director: Danny Mamik

Editor: Hemanshu Rathod

Cast: Kshitija Saxena, Sharang Natarajan

Cinematographer: R.Dee

DA: Ali Balsania

Executive Producer: Susheel Rankawat

Music Director: Akash Brahmbhatt

Arranged and mixed by: Johan John Thekkan

Post production: Prime Focus Limited

Digital Agency: Genesis Burson-Marsteller