Mauritius Launches National Mental Health Programme
The Government of Mauritius has declared mental health a national priority, launching a programme founded by India-born Dr. Ishan Shivanand and rooted in one of India's oldest knowledge systems. The initiative was unveiled at State House in Reduit by His Excellency Mr Dharambeer Gokhool, President of the Republic, marking the first time a national government has adopted the programme, whose meditation and resilience practices have been validated in peer-reviewed medical research.
President Gokhool Emphasises Wellbeing as True National Wealth
President Gokhool stated, "Mauritius is honoured to become one of the countries where this cross-sector alliance now takes root. Because ultimately, the strength of a nation is not measured only by its economic achievements or physical development, but by the wellbeing of its people. The true wealth of a nation lies not only in what it builds, but in how it cares for its people."
Dr. Ishan Shivanand's Background and Clinical Validation
Raised in a monastery, Shivanand trained for years in ancient martial arts, breathwork, and meditation practices—a discipline of body, breath, and mind rather than stillness alone. He codified his mastery into structured protocols and subjected them to clinical studies with leading universities in the United States. The results, published in peer-reviewed international medical journals, documented up to 80% improvement in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
Global Adoption and National Implementation
Shivanand's protocols are already used in clinical and corporate settings internationally, including at Google. With the launch in Mauritius, a national government has adopted them for an entire population. The fact that this occurs in a nation whose history and culture are closely bound to India gives it particular resonance. A practice preserved for centuries, carried into modern clinical use by the Indian-born practitioner who mastered it, is now being written into another country's approach to national mental healthcare.
Dr. Shivanand Calls Mental Health a Public Emergency
Dr. Ishan Shivanand said, "For too long we have treated mental health as a private battle fought in silence. It is a public emergency, now magnified by AI. The Republic of Mauritius has chosen to break that silence, prioritising the wellbeing of its citizens and making care accessible to every individual. The answers the world is searching for have been held in India's contemplative traditions for centuries, and Mauritius is the first nation to put them to work at scale. What has begun here is a blueprint the world can follow."
First National Event: Kun Khmer Championship
The programme's first national event brings resilience-building into practice through sport. Compassion Unites is staging a Kun Khmer championship at the Cote d'Or National Sports Complex that builds discipline and confidence in young people.
Blueprint for Other Nations
The launch at State House marks the start of a sustained national effort, one its founder intends as a model other governments can study and adapt. A tradition India has held for centuries is now being adopted, at the scale of a nation, beyond its borders.
About Compassion Unites
Compassion Unites is a cross-sector mental health alliance bringing together corporates, governments, faith institutions, academic centres, and community networks to expand access to mental health support worldwide. Learn more at compassionunites.com.
About Dr. Ishan Shivanand
Dr. Ishan Shivanand is an academic, philanthropist, and founder of Compassion Unites. Raised in a monastery, he trained within one of India's oldest knowledge systems before bringing its practices into modern clinical research. His work has been published in peer-reviewed international medical journals. An award-winning author of the USA Today national bestseller, The Practice of Immortality, he has been recognised by the U.S. Congress, received by the U.K. Parliament, and invited to the White House to advise on the opioid crisis. He holds research affiliations with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Ropar and Stanford University. Dr. Shivanand is available for media interviews and speaking engagements on mental health and the science of meditation.
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