Starting a conversation

For those experiencing mental health difficulties, fear of the stigma associated with conditions can affect how they relate to others. Therefore, the need to shred the veil of silence and shame that surrounds it is pressing and a Mumbai-based music producer, Zain Calcuttawala and mental health professional Avanti Malhotra, have set about doing just this through a one-of-a-kind podcast titled Marbles Lost & Found. The podcast, which consists of 10 episodes, seeks to normalise mental illness by having conversations around it while also creating awareness about the importance of mental health. “We wanted to represent how normal it is to ‘lose your marbles’ and also provide hope that you can find them again,” shares Avanti while Zain adds, “We need to have discussions around the topic. Silence is not the solution because, if ignored, mental health issues manifest in other ways, like anger, difficulty with confrontation, lying, commitment issues, chronic headaches, the list could go on.”

Having battled depression and anxiety themselves, Zain and Avanti do not shy away from discussing issues surrounding mental illness. “On Marbles, Zain and I demystify the experiences of depression and anxiety, therapy and caregiving by discussing them casually, minus any jargon. We also interview a couple of people, like psychotherapist Alishiya Halaney and musicians Gaurav Malekar and Tejas Menon for expert opinions as well as personal narratives,” shares Avanti. They also have an episode dedicated to busting myths around bipolar, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorders, one that seeks to understand the role of mental health in professional success and another interesting episode titled ‘Do We Belong To Our Past’, which explores how past narratives affect our present selves. Each 25-minute episode explores a new topic and is filled with genial banter and candid musings.

However, one isn’t to think that the podcast isn’t only for those battling mental illnesses, because everyone can learn something from it. “We use the term “mental health” as if it is limited to a small population of sufferers with illness, but actually it is just the state of being mentally healthy and being able to manage emotions and situations without shutting down or lashing out, hurting oneself or others in the process. This is applicable to everyone,” insists Avanti. But, the duo makes it clear that the podcast isn’t a substitute for professional help, but a good place to start conversations and find support. “We’ve always made it clear that we are not a substitute for professional mental health care. But we’ve had listeners writing in asking for help. In those instances we’ve tried to guide them to professionals who might be able to help them,” shares Zain.

Marbles Lost & Found recently wrapped up its first season, and creators Zain and Avanti say that the response they received was phenomenal. “Some of the messages we’ve received have been truly touching with people writing in to say thanks or that they feel empowered to seek help,” says Zain. “People who have tuned in have said they feel less isolated and the knowledge that they are not the first or last people to suffer in this way helps them feel more in control and less helpless,” adds Avanti. The duo is now working on the second season and is eager to cover more ground by holding workshops and panel discussions as well.