Rishab Rikhiram Sharma’s ‘Sitar for Mental Health’ to Launch Initiative
New Delhi: A first-of-its-kind initiative in India, where a leading healthcare facility with a fully integrated inpatient mental health facility has partnered with Sitar for Mental Health, an advocacy platform founded by neo-classical musician and sitarist Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, to promote greater awareness and dialogue on mental health. This collaboration marks the first time the leading hospital chain has introduced a music-centered wellness program into its clinical care setting, blending evidence-based mental health with the transformative power of music.
The partnership aims to promote greater awareness, encourage open dialogues and foster acceptance around mental health. By combining clinical expertise with the emotional resonance of music, the initiative aims to improve empathy, strengthen community-level approaches to mental health, and create innovative, immersive experiences that connect patients and communities through sound and reflection. As part of the collaboration, Adayu will integrate music created by Rishab Rikhiram Sharma into its centre, including a private room where patients can experience the therapeutic benefits of music first-hand. Starting this April, the partnership will launch a nationwide school outreach program across India aimed at helping young people understand emotional balance, resilience, and the role of creativity in preventive mental health. Next year, the initiative will also include digital awareness campaigns and community-led engagements designed to normalize conversations about mental health and reach broader audiences through meaningful, creative platforms.
Fortis Healthcare and Adayu Mental Health Program President Dr. Samir Parikh says: “Mental health deserves to be prioritized. Despite growing awareness, stigma continues to affect millions, leaving many suffering in silence. When a new age icon like Rishab Rikhiram Sharma champions mental health, it sparks important conversations and encourages communities to seek help without fear or judgement. Collaborations like this help us reach a broader demographic while encouraging greater openness and empathy around mental health.”
Rishab Rikhiram Sharma says, “Music has always been a deeply emotional and spiritual experience for me, but over time I realized it can also be a powerful tool for healing and connection. Through Sitar for Mental Health, I aimed to use the language of music to open conversations about emotional well-being and help people feel less alone in their struggles. Joining hands with the mental health experts at Adayu and Dr. Samir Parikh, we hope to create spaces where people can pause, reflect, and feel supported. Even one person can feel understood.” If it can help someone feel calm or encouraged to seek help, it has served a purpose far beyond performance.” This collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, where a leading hospital chain has embraced music as a complementary tool for mental health. Combining clinical expertise with the global advocacy of Rishab Rikhiram Sharma, this partnership sets a new benchmark for the integration of arts, creativity and healthcare and underscores the growing recognition of music worldwide as a catalyst for emotional healing and preventive mental health.
Sitar for Mental Health is a multi-sensory, immersive advocacy platform that blends Indian classical music with mindfulness, breathing exercises, guided reflection and open conversations about emotional well-being. What started as intimate live sessions on social media during the pandemic has grown into a global movement; He has toured many countries including India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, South America, and the Middle East, drawing tens of thousands of people to live concerts and reaching hundreds of millions online through videos, livestreams, and community engagement. Adayu, a Fortis Healthcare initiative, is the group’s first dedicated inpatient mental health facility and the first of a planned series of mental health centres. Designed to integrate advanced clinical care, cutting-edge technology, and evidence-based treatment programs, the facility provides end-to-end care with a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, counselors, art-based therapists, nutritionists, physical therapists, and yoga practitioners to deliver comprehensive, holistic mental health care.
