Adayu, the fully integrated in-patient mental health facility of Fortis Healthcare, has partnered with Sitar for Mental Health, an advocacy platform founded by neo-classical musician and sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma. Through this collaboration, the institutions aim to promote greater awareness and dialogue around mental health.
Notably, this partnership marks the first time the leading hospital chain has introduced a music-centered well-being program within a clinical care environment. By combining evidence-based mental healthcare with the emotional power of music, the initiative seeks to create a more holistic healing experience.
Promoting Awareness and Open Conversations
As per the press release, the collaboration primarily aims to increase awareness, encourage open dialogue, and promote acceptance around mental health. By bringing together clinical expertise and the emotional resonance of music, the initiative hopes to cultivate empathy and strengthen community-level approaches to mental well-being.
Furthermore, the partnership intends to create immersive experiences that connect patients and communities through music, reflection, and shared emotional expression.
Integrating Music Into Clinical Care
As part of the initiative, Adayu will integrate music created by Rishab Rikhiram Sharma within its treatment environment. The facility will also establish a dedicated space where patients can experience the therapeutic benefits of music firsthand.
In addition, the partners will launch a nationwide school outreach program starting this April. The program will engage students across India and help young people understand emotional balance, resilience, and the role of creativity in preventive mental health.
Over the coming year, the collaboration will also expand through digital awareness campaigns and community-led initiatives. These efforts aim to normalize conversations around mental health and reach wider audiences through creative and meaningful platforms.
Leadership Perspective on Mental Health Awareness
Commenting on the initiative, Samir Parikh, Chairperson of the Mental Health Programme at Fortis Healthcare and Adayu, emphasized the urgent need to prioritise mental health.
He noted that despite increasing awareness, stigma still prevents many individuals from seeking help. According to him, when influential voices such as Rishab Rikhiram Sharma advocate for mental health, they help spark critical conversations and encourage communities to seek support without fear or judgment. Such collaborations also allow healthcare institutions to engage a wider audience while promoting empathy and openness.
Music as a Tool for Healing and Connection
Speaking about the collaboration, Rishab Rikhiram Sharma highlighted the emotional and spiritual power of music. Over time, he realised that music could also serve as a powerful tool for healing and human connection.
Through Sitar for Mental Health, his goal has been to use music as a universal language to initiate conversations about emotional well-being and help individuals feel less alone in their struggles. By working with mental health experts at Adayu and Samir Parikh, he hopes to create spaces where people can pause, reflect, and feel supported.
He added that if music can help even one person feel understood, calm, or encouraged to seek help, it fulfils a purpose far beyond performance.
A First-of-Its-Kind Initiative in India
Importantly, this collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind initiative in India where a leading hospital chain integrates music as a complementary tool within mental healthcare. By blending clinical expertise with the global advocacy efforts of Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, the partnership sets a new benchmark for integrating arts, creativity, and healthcare.
Moreover, it highlights the growing global recognition of music as a catalyst for emotional healing and preventive mental health.