Chennai: At an age and time where we rarely know the family living next door, Sathish Kumar Balakrishnan’s Motta Maadi Sandhippu initiative focuses on people to overcome depression and other problems.
Being an active volunteer for various causes, he realised the dearth of a safe community to discuss problems and spend time without any worries. Sathish admits that it began without any plans three years ago. “A friend was telling me about a problem faced by his friend and I wanted to give him a solution. He created a group with the three of us and I sent him an inspiring story in five parts and at the end of it, I was surprised to find that he was motivated,” the cyber researcher recounts.
Adding more about the inception, he tells, “I wanted to provide solutions to problems like depression using technology and that was how the WhatsApp group came into existence. The group created a positive impact and helped people overcoming suicidal thoughts.”
Following which, the number of members gradually increased and he mooted the idea of meeting offline which has been happening for the past one-and-a-half years ago.
Over time, people began speaking up about incidents that disturbed them deep down during the session and the team of youngsters motivated and helped them overcome it.
Sathish says, “When a participant writes his/her problems in a piece of paper, there would be 15 people who can give 15 different solutions. That way, s/he gets to perceive life from a different point of view. When a person opens up about their problems, the others are requested not to mock or discuss elsewhere to maintain privacy.”
Asked about the involvement of an expert to deal with issues like depression, he says, “We have professionals from
varied fields such as psychologist, lawyer and medical profession. However, my perception about counselling changed when I spoke to the famous speaker Jayanthi Sribalakrishnan. I understood we need to learn the subject from our and other’s lives. It is also a platform to socialise with people, get connected with like-minded people and people are allowed to exhibit their talents during the session.”
The lad has also conceptualised fun-based games to improve cognitive thinking. “Activities targeting the thinking ability aids in forming different perceptions. It gives them the confidence to take any situation in a positive way,” the 29-year-old lad from Ramapuram adds.
The team also runs campaigns occasionally to help link people with similar thoughts and passion. Citing an example, Sathish adds, “Thani Oruvan is one such initiative which we conducted recently that connected entrepreneurs together.”
Motta Maadi Sandhippu is happening 6 October in five different locations in the city – Adambakkam, Alwarthirunagar, T Nagar, Madipakkam, Medavakkam and Alapakkam.