Celebrating the centenary of psychodrama’s incredible journey from Vienna to the United States, and its transformative impact around the world!
India is battling an alarming mental health crisis, often referred to as the suicide capital of the world, with 2.6 lakh Indians dying by suicide annually (Economic Times, 2023). Against this backdrop, Aadi – A New Beginning, the first-ever Psychodrama Conference in India, will take place in Ahmedabad on January 18-19, 2025.
Organized by Psychodrama in India (PiI), an initiative of Maanas The Inside Story (MTIS), this landmark event celebrates 100 years of Psychodrama—a groundbreaking group therapy method pioneered by Dr. J.L. Moreno that fosters emotional healing, self-awareness, and connection.
Program Highlights
Day 1 – January 18, 2025
- Inaugural Address: Marcia Karp (UK), Co-Founder, Federation of European Psychodrama Training Organisations
- Virtual Tribute by: Dr. Jonathan Moreno, son of Dr. J.L. Moreno
- Workshops by International Experts: Eva Fahlström Borg (Sweden), Dr. Clark Baim (UK), Klaus Ernst Harter (Germany), and Julia Vinckler-Nannattu (Estonia)
Day 2 – January 19, 2025
- Workshops by Indian Leaders: Dr. T.T. Srinath (Chennai), Rashmi Datt (Delhi), Magdalene Jeyarathnam (Chennai), Meenakshi Kirtane (Chennai), and Sarita Shah (Ahmedabad)
India’s Mental Health Crisis in Numbers
- 2.6 lakh suicides annually—highest in the world (Economic Times, 2023).
- 1 in 7 young Indians experiences mental health issues, but only 41% seek help (UNICEF, 2021).
- India requires more than 3,000 psychiatrists to meet WHO recommendations but has only around 9,000 psychiatrists nationwide.
MTIS and PiI Impact Statistics
- 1,000+ counselors trained through professional programs.
- 20,000+ lives transformed through therapy, workshops, and mental health programs.
- Institutions Supported: IIT Gandhinagar, Banaras Hindu University, Anand Niketan Schools, CEPT University, and others.
- COVID-19 Relief Efforts: 60 Theatre of Life sessions held, impacting over 1,200 people during the pandemic.
