The session created a reflective space to explore identity, language, and the ways we understand ourselves and the world around us. Beginning with grounding practices and moving into thoughtful dialogue, participants examined how identities are formed, carried, and sometimes gently set down. Conversations highlighted how language shapes perception and how meaning can shift depending on the words available to us.
We explored a few words that subtly shift how we understand the world around us: liminal, affordance, performative, and postmodernism.
Through guided reflection and shared discussion, the group engaged with questions of self-perception, social roles, and the fluid nature of identity. The space encouraged curiosity, honesty, and collective learning. Closed by choosing to rest, once again, not in labels but in verbs, allowing identities to be fluid: breathing, seeking, submitting, evolving, perceiving.

#theorangeroom#letslive#mentalhealthmatters#trivandrumevents#safespaces

We began in stillness with breath, silence, and a guided meditation that helped everyone arrive gently into the space.

We welcomed Anupama Ramachandran with a small token of love, a handcrafted bouquet made by The Orange Room members, a simple gesture of gratitude before the journey began. Through storytelling, we were invited to look at our emotions differently, not as things to fix or suppress, but as experiences to understand and hold.

We were guided into a visual journey inward, where each person met themselves in their own way, and then translated that inner space onto paper through colour, form, and feeling.

What followed wasn’t interpretation; it was sharing.
How it felt. What it meant. What surfaced.

When all the artworks came together, we arranged them like a river, a flowing stream of emotions, stories, and inner worlds, reminding us that feelings are not isolated; they move, connect, and carry us forward.

We closed with gratitude, reflections, and quiet voices sharing how the experience touched them.
For many, it felt like a new kind of healing – gentle, non-verbal, and deeply human.
Because healing doesn’t always come through words.

Sometimes, it comes through stillness.
Through colour. Through story. Through being witnessed. And through spaces that allow us to feel – without judgment, without pressure, without performance.

We wrapped up our MHC journey by reflecting on how these sessions supported participants in helping themselves and extending that support to others. Many shared meaningful experiences and expressed the care and belonging they felt within this space, something we are deeply grateful for.

The session then moved into a thoughtful discussion on self-harm and its different manifestations, followed by an exploration of suicidal ideation. We also introduced a 6-step suicide safety plan, grounding the conversation in practical support and prevention. Several courageous voices shared their lived experiences, reminding us why these conversations matter and how vital it is to show up for those who are struggling.

Before concluding, we engaged in an active exercise on problem-solving, focusing on a simple 5-step approach to navigating challenges.

We closed with gratitude, for every individual who showed up consistently, trusted the space, and carried a genuine commitment toward their own mental health and the well-being of others.

We began by introducing ourselves and sharing what we hoped to take back from the session. A fun little memory game broke the ice and set the tone for the morning.

From there, we checked in with how the new year actually felt, beyond the posts, the recap reels, and the “perfect” highlights. We spoke about the quiet emotions, the pressure, and the impact year-end comparisons can leave behind.

Through worksheets, we gently walked through 2025, what we tried, what went well, what didn’t, and what can be shaped better moving forward. We wrote letters to let go of what no longer needs to be carried.

After a tea break and a fresh start, we scribbled, passed papers, and ended up with something beautiful, a reminder that every year is a collective of shared moments, just like our lives. We then reflected on what we’re carrying forward, clarified our intentions and purpose, and closed by sharing gratitude for 2025 and hope for 2026.

Because every year doesn’t come with milestones. Some bring resilience, Some bring strength, Some simply bring rest. And all of it counts.

This space was about pausing, reflecting, and reminding ourselves of everything we have done, even the attempts, even the quiet progress. There’s still time ahead. And we’re allowed to move into it gently.

Coffee and Conversations with Prabin, the Founder–Director of Nadi Foundation and Kappiness Mental Health Space!

A very casual, easygoing evening with the Kappiness team.They began by sharing their journey as an organisation…why they started, what they do, and the work they care deeply about.

We dived to an open, heartfelt conversation on:

Their journey in the mental health space
The power and significance of mental health
What it takes to build supportive communities

This naturally led to an interactive discussion about basic mental health issues, lived experiences, and everyday questions.

No heavy agenda. No pressure. Just honest conversations, listening, and learning from each other.

It turned out to be a really warm and meaningful evening.

Let’s Talk. Let’s cut down the stigma. Let’s Live!

At our fourth gathering, we stepped into a deeper conversation…one that touched the heart, challenged assumptions, and honoured the strength it takes to heal.

This session centred around Depression and Resilience, exploring both the weight of struggle and the courage that carries us through it.

Our champions explored:

*The signs and symptoms of depression, beyond stereotypes and oversimplifications
*Lived experiences shared by individuals who have walked through clinical depression with honesty   and immense strength
*Causes and a glimpse into the physiology behind depression—because understanding the science   reduces shame

What resilience looks like in real life—not perfection, but persistence, compassion, and hope

Reflective conversations on how we can support others without judgement, pressure, or minimisation

We also took a special moment to honour and distribute certificates to the second prize winners of the debate competition conducted on World Mental Health Day at Muffin House, Pattom.

At The Orange Room, we held a special session in observance of International Men’s Day, creating a safe and thoughtful space to talk about masculinity, emotions, vulnerability, and everything in between.

The session invited participants to reflect on the pressures men often grow up with-to be strong, silent, and self-reliant-and how these expectations can make it difficult to express emotional struggles. Together, we explored what healthy masculinity can look like, the importance of emotional literacy, and how vulnerability is not weakness, but courage in its most human form. Honest conversations unfolded around stress, identity, relationships, and the quiet battles many men carry without speaking about them.

By holding space without judgment, we took small but meaningful steps toward normalizing emotional expression among men and building a culture where seeking support is seen as strength, not shame.

Here’s to building kinder, safer conversations around men’s mental health- not just today, but every day.

#InternationalMensDay
#MensMentalHealth
#HealthyMasculinity
#BreakTheStigma

Unplug & Unwind – A Journey to Awareness

In a world that’s always rushing, yesterday’s session at The Orange Room was all about hitting pause – to pause, breathe, and notice. Led by Divya Kamnani, Psychologist, we explored simple ways to slow down, be present, and reconnect with ourselves.

Embrace the quiet within. Notice the beauty in stillness. Let your mind find clarity and calm. Rediscover the joy of simply being. Through mindful reflections and guided awareness, we realised calm isn’t something you go looking for – it shows up when you simply stop and notice.

Sometimes, that’s all it takes.Pause. Breathe. Notice.

Mental Health Champions’ Meet 2
(Exclusively for participants of the Unfiltered program)

On September 20th morning, from 10 AM – 2 PM, The Orange Room came alive with energy, conversations, and learning

We welcomed 25+ student champions from 4 colleges where we’ve been running Unfiltered:

Barton Hill Engineering College
LBS College
National College
Mar Baselios College

They connected, interacted, and built a community of support while exploring two essential life skills:
Stress Management
Emotional Regulation

Together, we’re creating a ripple of awareness and resilience…one champion at a time

Suicide Survivors Meet

For those who have lost loved ones to suicide, healing begins in safe company.

We held a small and closed Suicide Survivors’ Meet,  a space to remember and speak about our dear ones who left us by suicide.

In this circle, we shared our first thoughts, the emotions that often remain unspoken, guilt, shame, anger and found comfort in knowing we are not alone in carrying them.

We ended with a tender moment of closure, each of us writing a letter to our loved ones, words that still live in our hearts.

Grief takes many forms, but when shared, it becomes a little lighter.

World Suicide Prevention Day 2025

Let’s Start the Conversation – Creating Hope Through Action

A safe, open space to talk, listen, and stand together for mental health and suicide prevention. Because every conversation can spark hope.

We came together to change the narrative about suicide. Students from Psychology and Social Work backgrounds at National College joined us in an engaging session filled with role plays, discussions, and shared perspectives.

We explored myths vs. facts, challenged stereotypes, and held space for open, stigma-free conversations

The energy, curiosity, and empathy from the students made it an incredibly interactive and meaningful session. Together, we’re moving closer to building a community where no one feels alone.

We dove deep into “Unparenting the Patterns” with the amazing Archana from The Reading Room.Less fixing, more listening. Because your teen doesn’t need perfection… they just need you.

We all know parenting teens is messy … but when they feel heard, it feels like home.

A gentle, relaxed space where people learned to:

Listen with empathy
Create emotional safety
Become the safe place your adolescent turns to

From conscious parenting to understanding different parenting styles, we explored how to balance strictness and freedom – because growing up is as much about unlearning old patterns as it is about learning new ways to connect.

She guided us through conscious parenting, exploring parenting styles and how to balance freedom & guidance.

On the occasion of International Self-Care Day, The Orange Room hosted a special session inviting young adults to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves amid their busy routines and daily demands.

The session explored self-care through movement and expressive arts, offering participants a creative and embodied way to understand and process their inner experiences. Facilitated by Krishnendu of Navem, the session encouraged self-awareness, emotional expression, and gentle reconnection with the self in a supportive group environment.

Through guided activities and reflective practices, participants had the opportunity to slow down, listen inward, and engage with their thoughts and emotions in a safe, non-judgmental space.

The session was free and open to young adults, creating an accessible space for self-exploration and care.

On the occasion of International Yoga Day, The Orange Room hosted a grounding and enriching session focused on the connection between yoga and mental health.

Participants were guided through simple asanas, calming breathing techniques, and meditation practices that supported reconnection with both mind and body. The session also included a thoughtful discussion on mindful eating and the close relationship between food and mood, offering practical insights for everyday well-being.

The session created a space to slow down, breathe, and nurture both physical and emotional health. We are grateful to everyone who participated and contributed to making the session meaningful.

#TheOrangeRoom
#LetsLive
#YogaForMentalHealth
#WellnessJourney