The Importance of Mental Health

Ritwik Das always brushed off the concept of mental health—until his second year in college. Stress from studies and isolation led to anxiety and panic attacks. He kept silent, fearing judgment. One day, he fainted during class. The doctor told him it was stress-induced. That moment shattered the stigma he held inside. He began therapy and joined a support group, where he found people just like him—struggling but healing. Ritwik went on to start “MindMatters,” a student-run initiative offering mental health awareness workshops. Today, he’s training as a clinical psychologist. “Talking saved my life,” Ritwik says. “Mental health isn’t weakness—it’s human. And asking for help is strength.”