Staff Reporter / New Delhi
At an evening marked by empathy and solidarity, Westland Books in collaboration with the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA) launched Homecoming: Mental Health Journeys of Resilience, Healing and Wholeness at the India Habitat Centre, Delhi. The book, co-authored by Neha Kirpal and Dr. Nandini Murali, brings together the voices of 11 women leaders who have navigated severe mental health challenges in India.
Nearly 200 people attended the launch, which created a safe and supportive space where contributors shared experiences of living with depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, OCD, chronic anxiety, inter-generational trauma, and suicide loss. Among those who spoke were Dr. Poornima Viswanathan, Zainab Patel, Dr. Kavita Arora, Sidrah Naiyer, Kairavi Bharat Ram, Dr. Pheroza J. Godrej, and Janani Iyer. Excerpts were also read from stories by Dr. Rhaisa R.M. and Aparna Piramal Raje.
The co-authors emphasized the importance of storytelling in shaping India’s mental health landscape. “Homecoming brings first-person narratives to the forefront, amplifying the need for compassionate, inclusive systems,” said Neha Kirpal, who has lived the experience of being a caregiver and sibling suicide loss survivor. Dr. Murali, who transformed her own journey of suicide loss into advocacy, added, “These stories move from the margins to the centre, highlighting women’s dignity and resilience.”
The book highlights how women disproportionately bear the hidden burdens of caregiving, stigma, and discrimination, while also pushing for systemic reform.
About the Authors
Dr. Nandini Murali: Founder of SPEAK, a Madurai-based suicide prevention initiative. A trauma-informed coach and author, she is committed to reimagining stigma-free mental health and suicide postvention support.
Neha Kirpal: A social entrepreneur and co-founder of Amaha Health, India’s largest private mental health service. Formerly the founder of India Art Fair, she is a global mental health ambassador and recipient of the Nari Shakti Award.