To commemorate two decades of dedicated service in mental health advocacy, Connecting Trust is organizing a significant three-day international conference focused on suicide prevention. The event, titled 'Fresh Perspectives on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health,' will take place from November 28 to 30, 2025 at Tarawade Clarks Inn in Pune.
Conference Brings Together Global Mental Health Experts
The gathering is specifically designed for mental health professionals, volunteers, social workers, students, and NGOs working in the mental health space. The conference aims to foster open dialogue, shared insights, and collective action in the critical area of suicide prevention. Notable mental health experts from both national and international arenas will present diverse perspectives covering mental health, suicide prevention, lived experiences, youth engagement, education, and community work.
During a recent press conference, Co-managing Trustee Sandy Andrade emphasized the complex nature of suicide and the urgent need for stronger societal connections. "There is no one specific reason for suicide," Andrade explained, highlighting how distress often builds long before a crisis becomes visible to others. "The thoughts start much earlier. What we often see, like family issues or exam stress, is only the tipping point." She stressed that robust support systems are essential for helping individuals build resilience against such challenges.
Comprehensive Conference Agenda and Speakers
The conference features an extensive program spread across three days, with each day dedicated to different aspects of suicide prevention and mental health support.
Day One (November 28) will commence with a pre-conference workshop on Connection & Relational Safety conducted by Sandy Andrade and Irina Ungureanu. This will be followed by a panel discussion featuring prominent figures including Dr. Dalbir Singh, Vandana Chavan, Siddharth Shirole, Anish Gawande, Dr. Lakshmi Vijayakumar, and Dr. Sukriti Chauhan.
Day Two (November 29) will feature a keynote address by Raj Mariwala, leading into a plenary session with Soumitra Pathare, Irina Ungureanu, Alok Sarin, and Shekhar Seshadri discussing dialectics in suicide prevention.
Final Day Focuses on Lived Experiences and Community Solutions
Day Three (November 30) will open with a keynote by Dr. Aruna Jha, followed by plenary panels focusing on sharing lived experiences and listening to youth perspectives. The day will also include sessions on strengthening community dialogue about suicide prevention, examining conflict as a context for suicidality, addressing suicide within the LGBTQIA+ community, and bridging the gap between practice and research.
This landmark event represents Connecting Trust's ongoing commitment to creating meaningful conversations around mental health and suicide prevention. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the organization aims to develop more effective strategies for supporting individuals at risk and building more mentally resilient communities throughout India and beyond.
