Union Health Ministry Appoints Actor Deepika Padukone as India’s First-Ever Mental Health Ambassador

In a landmark move to bring mental well-being to the forefront of national public health discourse, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) has appointed celebrated actor Deepika Padukone as India’s first-ever Mental Health Ambassador. The announcement, made on World Mental Health Day, marks a significant step in the government’s commitment to destigmatize mental health issues and enhance access to support services across the country.

Deepika Padukone, a prominent figure globally and a vocal advocate for mental health, will now leverage her influence to work closely with the Ministry. Her role is designed to amplify awareness campaigns, encourage help-seeking behaviour, promote preventive mental health practices, and support the outreach of key government initiatives like Tele MANAS (Tele-Mental Health Assistance and Networking Across States).

The appointment is particularly impactful given the actor’s personal journey. Padukone has openly shared her own battle with depression and anxiety in the past, a courageous public revelation that has significantly contributed to normalizing conversations around mental illness in India. Furthermore, she is the founder of The Live Love Laugh Foundation (TLLLF), established in 2015, which has been dedicated to destigmatization and providing mental health support, particularly in rural communities.

Expressing her profound honour in taking up the role, the actor took to social media, stating that the nation, under the leadership of the Prime Minister, has taken “meaningful steps to place mental health at the heart of public health.” She added that through her personal journey and the work of her foundation over the last decade, she has witnessed “how much is possible when we come together to build a mentally healthy India.”

Union Minister of Health & Family Welfare, J.P. Nadda, welcomed the collaboration, emphasizing its importance in reaching a wider audience. “The partnership with Ms. Deepika Padukone will help widely disseminate awareness about mental health issues in India, normalise discussions to reduce stigma, and highlight mental health as an integral aspect of public health,” Minister Nadda stated. He added that her involvement as a national advocate would help focus attention on mental health and encourage people to seek timely support through government-approved resources.

The announcement coincided with the launch of new enhancements for the Tele MANAS application, including a multi-lingual user interface, a chatbot feature named ‘Asmi,’ and accessibility features for visually impaired users. These digital improvements, coupled with Padukone’s outreach, are expected to strengthen India’s mental health framework and ensure more equitable access to care, fulfilling the government’s commitment to building a resilient and inclusive mental health ecosystem.