News

Volume 3 Issue 5 - March 01, 2005

Jagjit Singh sings for mental health

DNIS News Network - Ghazal maestro sings a new tune for mental health.

Ghazal maestro Jagjit Singh has taken up a new role by becoming an ‘ambassador’ for mental health. This gesture is for Snehi, a voluntary organisation providing psycho-socio support for those under mental distress.

To commemorate Snehi’s 10th anniversary and Singh’s collaboration with the organisation, Singh sang at a special fund-raising ghazal evening held at the Siri Fort Auditorium on February 19. Expressing concern over the neglect of mental health in the country, he said, “We have failed to recognise the importance of taking proper care of [these people]. Either we ignore the symptoms completely or, in extreme cases, send [them] to mental asylums, which is so absurd. What is needed is acknowledging its existence and working towards its removal….”

“By conservative estimates, India alone has a population of 20 million people who have one form or the other of mental disorder… stress, depression, etc. Besides, there is a disparity between the professional help being offered and the numbers that need it,” said Abdul Mabood, Director, Snehi.