
The lockdown has affected people in many ways, some visible and some not so visible. Mental health is one such not-so-visible effect and Ritu Bharadwaj of Connected-Women for Women feels it cannot be avoided any further. With Lockdown and semi-lockdown going on for so long, it has started affecting people psyche and the time has come to talk about it openly so more and more people benefit.
Mental health issues have become the need-of-the-hour. And the good thing is that people are more receptive to discussions and talks about mental health. Having time on hand also played a major role and realising that they are not the only ones going through stress helped them express their anxieties openly and work on them too.
The Mental Health Group run by Ritu has been very active during the entire lockdown to create awareness about the subject, reach out to maximum people and help people stay afloat in these psychologically challenging times. Being an online platform, they increased their online activities and webinars and creating new content regularly to create awareness on various mental health issues, how to recognise the symptoms and solutions.
This is the current story of Ritu Bharadwaj and her mental health group, but the story started in 2019 on 18t March when she started the Facebook group, so let us start from the beginning.

The awareness about mental health issues among people is a subject that is close to Ritu Bharadwaj and she feels that Lockdown has managed to bring out a very crucial issue to the fore. Being someone who has seen depression from close quarters, even though for a short while, understands the importance of acknowledging the condition, talking about it, and finding resolutions.
Ritu is happily married with an understanding husband, supportive in-laws and two healthy children. Despite everything going right, Ritu had a difficult second pregnancy, not because there were medical issues, but because she was mentally disturbed, and no one could understand her problems. The thought of managing a home and two young kids was bothering her but her professional situation was stressing her out completely. Her first pregnancy and taking care of her son later had put her career on hold for a few years and the same will happen again was playing on here mind constantly. She was not sure if she will be able to start her career all over again or this will be the end of it. By the third trimester, things started getting out of hand and she thought that her second child maybe a special child. She discussed this with her gynaecologist and talking and counselling helped her nerves to calm down and she had a normal child.

Despite a normal delivery, Ritu’s condition during pregnancy bothered her. So, she started reading about it and realised that she was not the only one going through this. There is a term for her situation called Post-partem depression.
As she started meeting people and discussing this, she realised that lot of them were in a similar situation. Motherhood for centuries has been a very normal part of a woman’s life and no one ever gave much heed to it but now the times are changing. With more and more woman having an active professional and social life makes it challenging to deal through early motherhood and the anxiety of losing a career is a big issue.
Ritu realised that there was neither much awareness about the subject nor much literature available. There were few psychologists addressing the issue, but they were very expensive and out of reach for most people.
And thus, was born Ritu’s third child – Connected – Women for Women on 18th March 2019. Though her friends and family supported her, but the support came with doubts and uncertainty.
And that why, when Ritu started contacting people to join the group, she wrote to strangers who she felt would understand her concern and be unconditionally supportive. Ritu searched on Facebook for gynaecologist, psychiatrists, psychologists and people vocal about the issue of post-partem depression and sent them messages. She was happy to get favourable responses.

In fact, her co-admins on the group are also two women whom she did not know earlier. She wrote to her co-admin Rajani Sen also on Facebook in the similar fashion. Ritu had read a few articles by Rajani and felt that she would be perfect for the group, so wrote to her. And Rajani agreed readily. Ritu and Rajni were going through similar phase of life at that time.

And Priyanka Rai is also part of the core team. Though Ritu and Priyanka stay in the same society, they had ever met before. But when Priyanka heard about the concept, she was convinced and joined the group and has been a strong pillar of support since beginning. She has always stood by Ritu whether to go for meetings, engage with people or planning further activities and events.
There was of lack of forum to address such issues of mental health is proven by the fact that that the group has been expanding steadily. Infact ina span of a year, the group has crossed 4000 members. More experts have joined in. more and more women are expressing themselves openly. As a result, the canvas of the forum was also expanded from focussing on post-patem to addressing mental issues in general.
Connected-Women for Women is a closed group, but there were requests from lot of people, including men, so Ritu started an open page too for Connected (NEED LINK) which has already crossed 1000 followers in a short span and the number of men surpasses the women in the open group. The idea is to make the forum more inclusive so that the taboo on mental health can be removed.






They have organised ground events on special women-centric occasions to reach out to more women and create awareness about mental health and depression. Ending one’s life is not the solution but understanding and getting over the depression is.
Though Ritu has been devoting a lot of time to her passion project but was not yet earning from it and still depended on her journalism job for financial independence, she was happy with progress of the group. Once the women overcome their mental discrepancies, they amazed others with their talent. Thus, Ritu and her group were thinking to make the group economically and environmentally viable for its members and long-term sustenance.
The things were on-track and going well for the group when the lockdown happened. But the fighter spirit of the women of Connected Group didn’t deter them, but got them rethinking about their promotion strategies.
In fact, they are thankful to lockdown that it has brought the mental issues to the fore and the taboo attached to it is rapidly diminishing.

Wishing ritu and team a loud applause for the great initiative and wishing them all the success!
May the mental issues be a thing of past soon, just like coronavirus.
Mental health is becoming increasingly relevant and important. It’s great to see people take initiatives such as this to keep the conversation alive and going!
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YEs Mental health is the need of the hour and the time has come to admit it and work on it
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Mental health is extremely important and it must not be ignored. That is one great work Ritu and the team are doing for sure. It’s so inspiring and three cheers to these wonderful people.
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I have known Ritu for long and kudos to her for understanding the need to remove the taboo from mental health and working on it.
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What Ritu is doing is indeed amazing for women with post partum depression. I’m super glad to hear more about this woman!
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You can check her on Facebook. The link is in the blog.
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Really an inspiring journey of a determined lady. I really wish her doing the best for society and people connected. Thanks for sharing this.
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Happy that you liked it. The time has come to talk about it openly.
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Such an inspiring profile. Mental health is something which is very necessary for today’s digital World. We are too occupied with the pressure that we without knowing but somehow targetted by depression. Mental health-related work, awareness, education are much needed these days.
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Yes Pamela… sometimes we dont realise it till its too late. Its important to acknowledge the problem and work on it in time
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People are doing a lot for the society. Mental illness has been long pushed in the background, which is not good. Initiatives like these create the necessary awareness and helps out people going through the tough phase. Good work.
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yes initiatives like these are very important for a healthy society
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Mental health is a serious issue that should never be look down upon. So many misconceptions out there. I know that because I know someone with a mental health problem and lot’s of people seem to judge him for it. Good to know that Ritu started contacting people to join the group. Will definitely going to check out her fb group.
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Please do and the fact that 4000+ people have connected in one year and that tell the gravity of situation
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A lot is spoken about mental health but sadly not many people practice things that are said. But its articles like these that can make a difference.
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yes and it has been making an impact … more and more people are coming out and talking
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Online seminars, webinars, etc for dealing with health issues is truly amazing and encouraging
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I really wish I am able to help a few with this article of mine… Thanks
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