Educational/professional background
Dentist, Public health and Mental Health enthusiast .
Research interests or career goals
A personal experience that I would love to share is regarding my diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes on my birthday, which unfortunately did not comprise cakes and cookies, but rather tons of insulin, depression, mood swings, sleepless nights, and physical pain. With hardly any chance of survival because of diabetic ketoacidosis, I hit the lowest point in my life, both physically and mentally. Though I had my parents as the strongest support system, it still made me realise that I had hit a quarter-life crisis. The period spanning from regular finger pricking to check my sugar levels to the unbearable pin-pricking sensations all over my body due to diabetic neuropathy made me flutter and howl in pain. Unwanted sympathy and negativity due to a strong societal stigma attached to this life-long condition resulted in a huge mental and emotional agony. Such a vicious circle of negativity, disappointment, and bad omens from relatives, neighbours, and friends eventually resulted in a severe diabetic burnout. The daily sight of insulin pumps and anti-diabetic medications depleted my hopes and there were times when I even thought of culminating my life. But as Kelly Clarkson’s song goes, “What doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger”, so did my ailment make me turn into a phoenix who learned to rise from her ashes. Despite such nasty lived experiences leading to low self-confidence and depression, I was able to get back stronger, defy all odds, and undertake a completely new venture. These experiences are solely responsible for my interest in the intersection between physical and mental health and I wish to contribute towards mental health research and create a high impact dent for the well-being of the society.
Why I chose LSHTM/my programme
I chose to pursue MSc Global Mental Health, as I dream of specialising in the same field. The King’s College London in conjunction with the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine offers an exceptional programme and provides an extensive coverage of the key areas of mental health. Since the programme consists of such enthralling modules which align with my interests, I see it as a launchpad for my career in research. ‘Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs’, ‘Global Mental Health’, and ‘Design and Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes’ are a few modules which provide an expository understanding regarding mental health issues which are currently pertinent to high, middle, and low- income countries, piqued my interest and fit perfectly into the research sphere. The teaching pattern of this interdisciplinary programme comprises blended learning with an amalgamation of a variety of software options, which will help to hone my communication, organisation, research, data management, and transferable skills to undertake any empirical project throughout my career.
Any extra information
International students might find it quite overwhelming initially, but I strongly advise them to seek help whenever they require it, and I can assure they won’t be disappointed. Last but not least, all I want to say is to work hard and have patience. Though an extremely intensive program, it is one of the best, especially for those who have had lived experiences of mental health issues. The course provides extensive opportunities to learn and interact with venerable personalities as well as students from multi-cultural backgrounds with a wide variety of experiences. I wish all the prospective students the very best in their future endeavours. I am sure they will have their best times in London, just the way I am.