Aparna Piramal Raje Launches Her Book 'Chemical Khichdi: How I Hacked My Mental Health'

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Mental health conditions have multiplied after the pandemic, but solutions to these challenges remain hard to find. Author and columnist Aparna Piramal Raje's new book Chemical Khichdi: How I Hacked My Mental Health is a bold attempt to normalise conversations on these topics and was released in Mumbai on 6th May 2022. The event was illuminated and graced by the presence of several industry stalwarts.

Part-memoir, part-reportage and part self-help guide, Chemical Khichdi is a hopeful and helpful guide for anyone looking to enhance their mental wellness. The book is divided into two sections: the first section is a memoir, which gives a raw and authentic look into the lived experiences of the author herself and how she learnt to live and thrive with bipolar disorder over two decades. In the second section, she outlines seven essential therapies that can help individuals with a mental health condition, their family, friends, colleagues, medical professionals and others who love and care for them.

Aparna in the book launch spoke about how the seven therapies are intended "for anyone wanting to improve their mental well-being. Bipolarity may affect only 1% of the population, but mental wellness is important to 100% of us. I believe three therapies - medical therapies, love therapy and lifestyle - are essential to learning how to survive any mental health challenge. Without these three, it was hard for me to get a handle on my condition. The remaining four therapies - the role of allies and the therapy of empathy, work therapy, self-therapy and spiritual therapy - have taken me from surviving to thriving." Aparna is also a former contributor to the UK's Financial Times and a public speaker, with growing interests in education and philanthropy.

Business tycoon Anand Mahindra, who has penned the foreword of the book, said
"the book's seven therapies present a pathway for everyone to cope, survive and heal, in a holistic and nurturing way. This book is as much for caregivers as it is for those dealing with a mental health condition themselves. Each one of us knows someone, in our respective inner circles, who is battling a mental health condition, of some sort."

The book has garnered a lot of support and over 400 people attended the launch event including dignitaries like Nisa Godrej, Anand Piramal, Ajay Piramal, Swati Piramal, Niranjan Hiranandani, Bhushan Gagrani - Principal secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra, Ashish Kumar Singh - Additional Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra, Chief Minister's office, Abhijeet Awasthi, Raj Mariwala, Tara Sharma, Aparna Popat, Anjali Bansal, Hemendra Kothari, Dr. Raman Deshpande, Dr. Avinash and Dr. Vandana Phadke, Dr. Rumi Beramji, Bharat Doshi, Paresh Sukthankar, Ashwin and Ina Dani amongst many others.

Mental Health Helpline Numbers

1. COOJ Mental Health Foundation (COOJ)- Helpline: 0832-2252525 | 01:00 PM - 07:00 PM (Monday to Friday)
2. Parivarthan- Helpline: +91 7676 602 602 | 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM (Monday to Friday)
3. Connecting Trust- Helpline: +91 992 200 1122 | +91-992 200 4305 | 12:00 PM to 08:00 PM (All days of the week)
4. Roshni Trust- Helpline: 040-66202000, 040-66202001 | 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM (Monday to Sunday)
5. Sahai Helpline: 080-25497777 / Email at - SAHAIHELPLINE@GMAIL.COM | 10 AM- 8 PM (Monday to Saturday)
6. Sumaitri: 011-23389090 / FEELINGSUICIDAL@SUMAITRI.NET |2 PM- 10 PM (Monday To Friday); 10 AM - 10 PM (Saturday and Sunday)
7. Sneha: 044-24640050 (24 HOURS) / 044-24640060 | Email at- HELP@SNEHAINDIA.ORG |8 AM - 10 PM.
8. Lifeline: 033-24637401 / 033-24637432 | Email at LIFELINEKOLKATA@GMAIL.COM | 10 AM - 6 PM.