This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Aastha Sethi : Championing Mental Health Rights Through Advocacy
Aastha is our Senior Officer, Policy and Advocacy with a focus on Rights. She lives and works in Mumbai, India.
The team at United for Global Mental Health are based around the globe and are diverse, passionate and knowledgeable individuals colleagues who bring a range of skills and experience to the fight to make sure mental health support is accessible to everyone, everywhere without stigma or restrictions. Find out a little bit more from some of our team about working in global mental health.
Why did you want to join UnitedGMH?
I am passionate about working in the mental health space. Having worked in suicide prevention research earlier, I realised that effective advocacy was a key factor in driving change. Policy research needs to be complemented by strategic advocacy and UnitedGMH’s excellent work in this space really inspired me.
What have you most enjoyed since you joined?
I have really enjoyed working with regional partners – my first project was working with our Caribbean partners to launch the Caribbean Regional Coalition for Decriminalisation of Suicide. I got to work with the most inspiring youth advocates, mental health practitioners, and people with lived and living experiences of suicide. It was really fulfilling to be able to help build a campaign which has the capacity to create a lasting impact on suicide prevention policies in the region.
What is the most challenging part of your role?
Advocacy is like a waiting game where you put in a lot of effort and the end result might not be quick, or even favourable. But it’s important to keep pushing to ensure that change is achieved and sustained. Whilst it can be challenging, it’s important to keep yourself motivated at all times.
What advice would you give others wanting to work in global mental health?
I am still learning new things everyday so the only advice I have is that you should be willing to learn and listen. Global mental health requires us to be compassionate, empathetic and incorporate diverse voices. We need to come into this work with a lot of humility acknowledging that there have been many people with lived experiences, and advocates who have worked tirelessly to put mental health on the agenda.