GCC Opens Mind Mantra Mental Health Wellness Centre at Ripon Building
Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner G S Sameeran opened a dedicated mental health wellness centre at Ripon Building to cater to more than 20,000 civic employees. The facility has been set up to support workers across departments and encourage staff to seek professional assistance for psychological concerns and work-related stress.
Named Mind Mantra, the centre has been established by the civic body in partnership with the Credai Chennai Foundation and the Dhruthi Trust. The joint initiative seeks to bolster the emotional and mental well-being of the civic workforce while actively dismantling the stigma often associated with seeking psychological care.
As part of the service, the Dhruthi Trust has introduced a dedicated helpline for civic personnel at +91 80314 51918, operational daily between 5pm and 11pm. Employees working across various zones and departments in the city can utilise the helpline to schedule appointments and connect with mental health professionals.
According to Jaya Venkatesh, programme coordinator of the Dhruthi Trust, free mental health counselling will be conducted by trained psychologists and counsellors from the non-governmental organisation on Tuesdays and Thursdays. On the remaining days of the week, a dedicated coordination team will remain available to manage queries and support staff needs.
GCC City Health Officer Jagadeesan explained that the primary purpose of the centre is to assist civic personnel in managing professional stress and heavy workloads. Noting that the intervention is designed to improve workflow, he stated that officials and ground staff alike are encouraged to approach the resident psychologists to receive appropriate guidance and care.
In addition to individual counselling sessions, the initiative will conduct mental health awareness workshops for corporation staff. Venkatesh noted that the trust has already begun assisting clients and is focused on tackling lingering taboos around mental health in the workplace, adding that with people across generations serving within the civic body, the programme seeks to break down barriers and make emotional support accessible to all.
