On the occasion of World Mental Health Day on October 10th, 2025, actress Deepika Padukone has been appointed as India’s First Mental Health Ambassador by the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The actress shared on her Instagram handle that she is deeply honored.

Led by our Hon. Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, our nation has taken meaningful steps to place mental health in the heart of public health. 

The actress said, "In my own journey and the work done at the @tillfoundation over the past few decades,  she has seen how much is possible when together they come to build a mentally healthy India.  She said she is looking forward to working alongside Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and the Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava , department of Health and Family Welfare.

Why is Deepika Padukone picked as India’s First Mental Health Ambassador?

Deepika Padukone had a meeting and  conversation with the Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and with the secretary of Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punya Salila Srivastava. It is an attempt to strengthen India’s mental Health support system and to promote the open conversations about wellbeing.

The move came about due to Deepika Padukone being open about her struggles with her  own mental health in the past. She has over the past few years actively promoting about mental health through her foundation called ‘Live Love Laugh Foundation’ .

The actress and philanthropist for a cause will work with the ministry to spread the awareness and the message on mental health and assist to promote the government initiatives like Tele MANAS.

The Partnership will help to distribute the mental health issues in India.  It will help to normalize the discussions and reduce the stigma attached to it. Deepika  will also help to highlight mental health as an integral aspect of the health of the public said the Union Minister J.P. Nadda.

Deepika on Marking Mental Health Day

The actress shared her mental struggles and how she inspired people thereafter. Deepika Padukone recalled she still remembers her first meeting at her residence at the dinning table with Dr. Shyam and Anna Chandy .They were the people she had asked for help when she was going through her own struggles with her mental health.  She told them she wanted to do something for mental health in India.  The actress is said to have expressed that it was her deep personal experience and just passing on her experience to the public especially her audience and fans was not enough . She wanted to do something more and this is something she wanted to share with the world