Hubballi Hosts ‘Run for Mental Health’ to Boost Awareness and Reduce Stigma

Hubballi: In a bid to raise awareness about mental health, Young Indians, a sister organization of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), hosted the ‘Run for Mental Health’ event today. Organized in collaboration with Karnataka Medical College & Research Institute (KMCRI), Indian Psychiatric Society – Karnataka Chapter, and Aantharya Neuropsychiatric Centre, Hubballi, the event aimed to destigmatize mental health and emphasize its importance in everyday life.

The event was inaugurated by Hubballi-Dharwad Police Commissioner N. Shashi Kumar, who underscored the significance of mental health alongside physical well-being. In his address, Shashikumar highlighted the mounting stress in modern life, attributing it to rising cases of addiction, suicide, and crime. He urged the public to communicate openly about mental health with close friends and family, noting that discussions can often prevent minor issues from escalating.

Dr. S.F. Kammar, Director of KMCRI, emphasized that mental health is essential to a person’s overall development and well-being. The event drew about 650 participants from the Hubballi-Dharwad region, as well as neighboring areas such as Gadag, Haveri, and Uttarakannada, with runners completing routes of 2 km and 5 km starting from the KMCRI campus.

The route covered prominent local areas, including the BRTS passage, Shirur Park’s TenderSure Road, and the Hosur-Unkal Road junction, before returning to the KMCRI campus.

The event saw notable attendees including Dr. Gurushantappa Yalagachchin, Principal of KMCRI, Hubballi; Dr. Somshekhar Bijjal, President of the IPS Karnataka Chapter; Dr. Arunkumar C., Director of DIMHANS, Dharwad; CII Young Indians Hubli Chair Dr. Nagaraj Naik; Co-Chair Rahul Surana; as well as other prominent figures from the mental health community, such as Dr Mahesh Desai, Dr. Sameer Mangalwedhe and Dr. Shivanand B. Hiremath. Students, faculty members from various educational institutions, and members of the Hubli Fitness Club were also present, underscoring broad community support for mental health awareness.

This initiative by Young Indians reflects a growing commitment to addressing mental health challenges and fostering a supportive community for open conversation and proactive care.