Spoon Summit 2.0: Of the Scars That Don’t Show

Scheduled to be held on 1st April 2017 at the Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Centre, the second edition of Spoon Summit is not just a one-day affair with speaker sessions, slam performances etc in an audience of 300, with multiple media houses and publications in the house.

The cause they have taken up this year is Mental Health and the stigma surrounding it, with the hope that when enough people talk about these hitherto taboo issues, a change will be triggered, if not effected entirely.

Concept Note of the Conference Summit

(Event link here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1231206973642919/)

“I wish I had broken my foot, so people would understand the intensity of the pain I am going through.”

“I wish I had been in an accident so I could justify why I am not able to work without my colleagues/classmates shaming me.”

Mental Illnesses are just that: Illnesses. But, unlike common cold or flu, they are hard to see. No, one cannot measure the intensity of the anxiety attack, one cannot measure the depth of depression, one cannot see the panic of a bipolar mind. But just because they’re invisible, doesn’t mean they are non-existent.

And you can never tell if the person sitting next to you right now is battling, or surviving through one of these.

However, there’s a worse thing you can do than failing to identify a mental illness, and that is stigmatizing it. Making it an issue to be discussed in hushed whispers. Attaching shame with such conditions.

Presenting to you, our very own platform where we speak up, and encourage you to speak up, about the invisible injuries, the emotional trauma, the inexplicable challenges of the scars that don’t show.

Of the Scars That Don’t Show is not a poetic name for our campaign. It is a call, it is a plea, it is an attempt to let everyone know- just because my trauma or distress doesn’t show, it’s existence should not be underplayed.

Of the Scars That Don’t Show, which when overlooked or neglected lead to the shocking statistics of suicides.

Of the Scars that Don’t Show, because some bruises hurt and cripple you more than the others, but you have nothing to show for it

Of The Scars That Don’t Show, because brain is not treated like an organ that can get tired and sick, too.

Of The Scars That Don’t Show, because therapy and asking for help is tough as it is, we don’t need to stigma to worsen the situation.

Our campaign to mobilize about the same unfolded in multiple stages, including an online campaign we did whereby people shared their stories of dealing and healing and coping and shared their experiences vulnerably.

The event comprises of the following Speaker Sessions.

1. Neha Sharma, of Neha Doodles fame on how Art is a coping mechanism for mental well being

2. Diksha Bijlani, National Youth Poetry Slam winner on "Life as a Psychology student" and how to be your own therapist when you cannot have one.

3. Aakash Mehta, writer and Comedian on his own personal experience battling anxiety and depression.

4. Tara Bedi from Instagram on how Social Media, especially Instagram is coming up with tools to detect suicidal and depressive tendencies among users.

Performances by slam poets

Prize distribution for winners of pre-event and Mental Health Heroes

Launch of the magazine An Ode to Semi-Colon and contributors' certification

Panel discussion on "Is the issue of mental health not issue enough?"

Where? Jawaharlal Nehru National Youth Center, ND Tiwari Bhawan, ITO

Google Map Location here: https://goo.gl/maps/9oiq3Wveqxy

When? 1st April 2017, 12 Noon

Registration Link: https://goo.gl/forms/slv9J6tiopGWvqFM2

Be there and witness the change!