Marking one year of interdisciplinary research, Fame University’s CRWBH advances evidence-based strategies to promote mental health, resilience, and holistic societal wellbeing
The Centre for Research in Wellbeing and Happiness (CRWBH) at FLAME University, Pune, dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary research on societal wellbeing, on October 10 celebrated its one year of establishment and hosted its 1st Annual Symposium on “Intervention Pathways to Wellbeing: Families, Communities, and the Lifecycle Approach”, in observance of World Mental Health Day. The landmark event brought together a distinguished panel of academicians, development practitioners, policymakers, industrialists, and domain experts to engage in insightful discussions on the evolving landscape of wellbeing and to explore innovative strategies for enhancing mental health and holistic wellbeing across all stages of life. Through this dialogue, participants gained deeper insights into India’s evolving mental health landscape and ongoing research efforts dedicated to fostering holistic wellbeing and happiness.
The symposium showcased CRWBH’s contributions to interdisciplinary wellbeing research in India. Over the past year, the Centre has undertaken research spanning psychology, public health, economics, and sociology, generating actionable insights for policy, community initiatives, and individual-level interventions. The Centre conducts academic and policy research, exploring emerging paradigms that go beyond conventional socioeconomic metrics.
The event featured a thought-provoking plenary session on “Mental Health in Context: Families, Communities, and Social Structures” and an engaging panel discussion on “A Lifecycle Approach to Wellbeing: Intervention Pathways.”
The plenary session, chaired by Prof. Udaya Shankar Mishra, Professor, International Institute for Population Sciences, and co-chaired by Prof. Tannistha Samanta, Faculty of Sociology, FLAME University, examined the far-reaching effects of shifting interpersonal relationships on psychological well-being across age groups, with a particular emphasis on young people. The discussion brought to light the growing challenges posed by fragmented family structures, the pervasive influence of social media and technology, mounting work-life imbalances, and the pace of modern living that leaves little room for reflection or emotional connection. The session underscored the restorative power of family bonds, community engagement, and social support systems in nurturing mental resilience.
The discussion also examined scalable intervention models and their policy relevance, identifying strategies that can be implemented at a population level to promote a more inclusive and resilient society. Panelists included Prof. S.V. Subramanian, Professor, Harvard University; Prof. T.V. Sekher, Professor, International Institute for Population Sciences; Dr. Nidhi Gupta, Head of Research, Aditya Birla Centre for Enriching Lives; and Prof. Sunil Rajpal, Director, Centre for Research in Wellbeing and Happiness and Faculty of Economics, FLAME University, with Dr. Rajiv Kumar, Founder, Pahle India Foundation and Former Vice-Chairman, NITI Aayog, chairing alongside Dr. Tulika Tripathi, Associate Professor, Central University of Gujarat.
Dr. Anuradha Sovani, Professor and Head, Department of Psychology, SNDT Women’s University, shared insights from a biopsychosocial framework linking individual, community, and societal factors to mental health outcomes, while Dr. Azizuddin Khan, Professor, Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Bombay, highlighted evolving family structures and their implications for wellbeing.
A highlight of the symposium was the release of CRWBH’s first flagship policy report titled Later Life in India: Ageing Well in Perspective, which provides a comprehensive assessment of elderly wellbeing in India. The report examines key dimensions including health, economic security, family care, and subjective wellbeing, while highlighting urgent policy priorities such as addressing the “double burden” of non-communicable diseases and mental health challenges, enhancing financial security and pension coverage, particularly for women, supporting family caregivers through formal long-term care, and promoting community-led, lifecycle-based interventions.
Sharing insights from the landmark report, Prof. Sunil Rajpal stated, “Around 26–28% of elderly men and 30–35% of elderly women in India experience elevated depressive symptoms, with rates highest in central and conflict-affected states, highlighting how ageing, social isolation, and instability shape mental wellbeing.” He further added, “This underscores that mental wellbeing in later life is not solely a function of age or biology but is deeply intertwined with macro-level social and political stability. Chronic trauma and social disruption from conflict and instability represent profound, often unaddressed determinants of mental health, a pattern supported by research linking adverse early-life and environmental factors to poor outcomes in later life. The symposium aimed to explore evidence-based solutions and innovative intervention pathways to enhance mental health and overall wellbeing, focusing on families, communities, and lifecycle approaches that foster resilience, social cohesion, and purpose among India’s aging and young population.”
Prof. S. V. Subramaniam, shared, “Happiness cannot simply be measured — it must be understood through its many components like connection, purpose, and environment. Just as GDP has clarity, our measures of wellbeing must be equally clear and inclusive. Faith, culture, and community spaces — from friendships to green parks — are as vital to our happiness as any economic indicator.”
The panel discussion drew on CRWBH’s formative assessment of elderly wellbeing in the Indian context. It explored pathways for ground-level interventions to enhance societal wellbeing through a life-cycle lens, reflecting on the complex interplay between objective and subjective measures of wellbeing across different phases of life. Experts deliberated on the feasibility of community-based initiatives that promote volunteering, neighborhood engagement, and altruism among the elderly as potential pathways to strengthen purpose, connection, and self-perceived well-being.
Speaking at the symposium, Mr. Vallabh Bhanshali, Member, Governing Body, FLAME University, said, “As educators, we must move beyond conventional measures like GDP and question what truly defines progress. Interdisciplinary education, at its core, is about freedom of thought and the courage to imagine new possibilities. If academic institutions can define missions, let ours be to create a happier world — not through vague ideals, but through measurable, meaningful impact.”
Dr. Anuradha Sovani, also added her unique perspective and shared, “Wellbeing is not merely the absence of illness, but the presence of connection — with ourselves, our families, our communities, and our society. As the world changes, many nurturing traditions have disappeared, but we can reclaim happiness through empathy, inclusion, and collective action. Mental health must become as accessible and indispensable as technology — a tool for everyone, everywhere.”
