KOLKATA, May 13 -- Are you battling examination anxiety, worried about job prospects, or stressed due to cyberbullying? In Kolkata, Carring Minds International has spent over 13 years working to destigmatise mental healthcare. Now, the premier mental healthcare centre has moved to a new and larger address. From operating out of a modest single-floor facility at Padmapukur, the institute has shifted to a sprawling 40,000 sq ft space spread across seven floors near Dhakuria Bridge.
The new centre has been designed with four dedicated wings, including Clinical, Akademia, Outreach and Awareness, and Rekovery 360, which focuses on hydrotherapy and advanced physiotherapy for people of all age groups. With a team of more than 40 clinicians, the facility also offers paediatric physiotherapy, calm rooms, dedicated dining area for patients, and separate wheelchair-accessible lifts for patients.
Dr Minu Budhia, renowned psychotherapist and founder of the institute, said the Padmapukur branch had become saturated due to space constraints, prompting the move. She added that the aim was to provide patients with a holistic and experiential approach to mental healthcare, with all psychological and emotional wellness services available under one roof. "Over the years, the stigma surrounding mental health has certainly reduced, but we still have a long way to go," said Dr Budhia. She also acknowledged the role played by Bollywood actors in increasing awareness around mental health and encouraging open conversations on the subject.
Highlighting the growing global mental health crisis, she pointed out that more than one billion people worldwide are living with mental health disorders. "Mental healthcare is just as important as physical healthcare. Only when the mind is at ease can the body truly feel relaxed," she said.
To ensure a more immersive and comforting healing experience, every floor of the new facility has been carefully designed with muted colour palettes, children's play areas, a platinum lounge for emergency psychometric testing, and a multisensory studio catering to patients across age groups. Clients from Bangladesh, UAE, Australia, Singapore, Canada and USA visit the clinic. Also, the clinic has teamed up with prestigious educational institutes too.
Dr Budhia also observed a growing sense of loneliness and emotional emptiness among middle-aged women in Kolkata, particularly those whose children are studying abroad or are occupied with their own lives. Men, too, are increasingly seeking counselling support, especially to cope with work-related stress and professional pressures.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.