The Heroes Behind The Listening Circle: COVID-19 Lockdown Story
Heroes. The word weighs as much as Syphisus’s giant boulder. But today, that word is not designated for only Marvel’s Avengers. It’s you, me and everyone who is staying inside their homes and the people who are providing their services — especially doctors, nurses, the delivery guy, your friend who just called you up to ask you how you are doing these days and just every human being right now who is holding onto hope.
Just recently, I was featured in of the Castrol Activ’s ad video about the ‘heroes’ who are still doing their good bit while staying indoors during the lockdown.
In the video, I am saying that I am helping people cope with anxiety by providing online sessions. I absolutely loved being part of this ad. It makes me gloat more to find that The Logical Indian and Storypick have also covered it and have featured me.
So what these online sessions?
We, at Bhor Foundation, started an initiative called The Listening Circle that is a peer support group for mental health survivors and caregivers in Delhi. Since the first time I held a support group session in a park near my place two years ago, The Listening Circle has been successful in creating a safe space in the community and for the community of regular attendees. It has been featured in the Hindu, Times of India and other media channels. It was also featured by India Today in their documentary on mental health. We have been regularly conducting support group sessions in Delhi and also in Bangalore.
Our last meet was in Feb 2020 at one of the cafes in CP, Delhi when the global pandemic and lockdown happened. Since then, we have been running virtual listening circles on Zoom because we didn’t want these safe spaces to become unavailable for the community, especially now.
Today I want to feature and thank the heroes of Bhor who are contributing selflessly for the cause and are behind the scenes of the Listening Circle. It’s just not one person’s efforts but so many people coming together.
Jhilmil, like the truly Wonder Woman Diana, conceptualised the Listening Circle and is the rock of our team. Her own work in the space of mental health and art and poetry is the reason why Bhor is all about creative healing through arts and writing. She is the founder of Bhor Foundation.
Priya is the one who initiated the first virtual listening circle, the talent of the group, the most likeable person, and the face behind most of our beautiful creative posts on Instagram and Facebook . She brings art-based activities to the listening circle. Her own creative touch. She also holds her own TLC in the west part of Delhi where her art-based activities are as refreshing and exciting as the first cup of morning tea. Something we always look forward to. She is also a part of the core Bhor team.
Komal, a therapist in traning and mental health advocate/peer counselor, has now become an integral part of the listening circle and Bhor Foundation. Her drive to work for the cause and selfless dedication to really help people by being there is what makes me really grateful to have her in the team. She has supported us by conducting some of the listening circles and being there for assistance. She takes care of posting TLC’s whereabouts on Bhor’s Facebook page by creating event pages and sharing related information.
Yashita has been interning with Bhor since last year. With her support, we were able to increase the frequency of the Listening Circle and make it more consistent. Her self-made posts are all over Bhor’s Instagram page. Better scheduling and frequent posting of the updates were achieved with her contribution. With a cheerful smile and heart, she has become a constant face in the listening circles.
Moupiya was the first person who believed in the listening circle apart from Bhorians. We were able to take TLC out of Delhi and to Bangalore through Moupiya’s selfless drive to help people and be there to support them. Apart from being a full-time design and marketing professional, she has conducted some TLC sessions in Bangalore and a few of the virtual ones. Her presence in our team even till now pushes us to not give up even when scheduling and conducting TLC’s become a strained effort. We are able to rely on this solidarity.
Apart from them, Bhor has been constantly supported by fellow Bhorians like Arpita, Zain, Sonaksha and so many of other volunteers. These are our heroes!
The lockdown is a crisis for each and every being right now but it also an event when the best version of humanity is being witnessed right now. Let’s keep doing our little bit of good, however much is possible. And let’s not forget that even taking care of oneself during these days is ALSO that bit of good.
