Q Tell us about yourself?
Yashika: My name is Yashika Singh, and I am the founder and CEO of the Beyond Meds Foundation. I am currently pursuing my bachelors from Zakir Hussain College. I am a part of other organisations as well working in different capacities. I would like to describe myself as a human rights defender and an intersectional feminist.
Parth: My name is Parth Agarwal, and I am the co-founder and CEO of the Beyond Meds Foundation. I am pursuing philosophy. associated with other organizations as an advisor. I like to engage in debates through participation in various MUNs.
Q Could you tell us a bit more about the initiative and how it started?
Parth: Beyond Meds Foundation is a pan India NGO registered under the Company’s Act, 2013 and in NITI Aayog. Currently, we have over 150 Members spread across several branches. We aim to primarily achieve three objectives: Mental Health Awareness, Social Welfare and Psychological Welfare.
Yashika: This initiative’s inception took place during the pandemic, as I learnt and read more about mental health, which is so very essential but unfortunately not talked about enough. Since people felt more disturbed and anxious than usual, I wanted to create a space where people could share their stories as well as opinions without the fear of judgement, while also aiding others in their journeys at the same time.
Initially, our initiative started as an Instagram page, with around 10-14 people. However, now we have a team more than 150 people, who have worked diligently to impact over 1,000 lives.
Q Please tell us about your work and process of working?
Yashika: We have psychologists on board with us in order to provide people the help they need at all times. We offer this counselling at a relatively low price, and depending on need, sometimes even for free. I believe India is the second most depressed country in the world and yet the existence of mental health problems and therapy which leads to a situation where even teenagers and young adults coming from privileged backgrounds often require financial aid.
Parth: We also post about mental health on our social media handles in order to raise awareness about the issue. Our current project called Mission Pehchaan is a permanent flagship campaign under which we have established a school for around 80 underprivileged children. We have hired a special educator and a clinical psychologist for the school, where they’re diagnosing kids with special needs so that focused attention can be given to them. We provide these pupils with uniforms and mid-day meals, and plan to continue this project in other states as well.
We also have conducted several other successful campaigns. We have branches in Mumbai, Jodhpur, Bangalore, Baroda and a newly launched DU branch, which have conducted many food drives, campaign for animal welfare etc. We look at these issues through the lens of mental health and how lack of access to these facilities affects it.
Yashika: We also have a project called Pihu under Pehchaan. As we know that cases of oppression and abuse are very common in slums, we have vowed to teach them a simple skill like stitching which would help them sustain themselves and be independent.
Q Would you say that your future careers would align with this foundation and do you keep on continuing it?
Yashika: As of now, I am planning to do a masters in either social work or psychology, and have no intention of taking a break from this initiative any time soon.
Parth: I would like to do either an MBA or do a master in non-profit leadership. I am also not having such a plan right now, however, I feel that since we have a large team with proper delegation of work, so taking a short break should not prove too difficult.
Yashika: Our team consists of people know we know we can trust and turn to. Also, working around mental health issues has helped us be more empathetic towards the problems that our own team is feeling as well.
Q Do you have any advice on time management?
Parth: Though difficult at first, securing more members has helped us gain more structure. Appropriate delegation of work has also helped us manage our time better. Personally, I prefer studying on my own to attending classes which helps save time as well. I would also like to mention that even though I am part of other initiatives, Beyond Meds Foundation is my priority, while I devote the time left after to those other organizations
Yashika: In the beginning we were less people who constantly aspired to do more, and we achieved that through constant hard work. As for my other commitments, they mostly relate to writing, which is something I have always liked and so I have never really viewed it as work.
Q What or who has been your inspiration in tough times?
Yashika: I would say everyone that I have ever met is inspired me in some way. However, there are three people who have always encouraged me to do my best. These are: my mother, my mentor Varidhi ma’am and Parth, and I believe they are the most influential out of all my inspirations.
Parth: I have drawn a lot of inspiration from my previous experiences, including getting bullied in my high school years which I believe has vastly shaped me. Also, my late grandfather was a philanthropist and social worker, and doing this work makes me feel that I’m honoring his legacy.
Q Is there anything you would like to share with people interested in starting a similar initiative?
Yashika: I would like to encourage the people undertaking a similar journey to not engage much with non-constructive criticism. It is important to focus on the positive side of any situation and take a moment to enjoy your success when you hit a benchmark. One should not pay attention to the relentless scrutiny and trolling that is characteristic of today’s social media as it often takes a toll on your mental health.
Also, I would like to emphasize that mental health issues should not be romanticized. Today, in popular media it is often seen that issues like depression, anxiety etc. are glorified. Also, these words are commonly used as adjectives which decrease their seriousness. Thus, I feel that it is important to educate yourself about topics relating to mental health, and also to empower others with the same knowledge.
Parth: I feel one should always take a leap of faith and do invest their time in things they believe to be worthwhile. Do not get into things with a mindset that you are bound to fail, because often once you are passionate enough about something, time management comes very easy.
Also, I would like to urge all readers to understand the gravity of mental health issues and to feel free to approach to us or any other organization with valid credentials in order to seek help in case they feel they are in need of talking to a professional.
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