Indian actor and philanthropist Darasing Khurana, 32, has been honored with the prestigious Mahatma Gandhi Leadership Award for his impactful work in raising awareness about mental health issues, particularly in his role as the ‘Commonwealth Year of Youth Champion.
Award Recognition
- Khurana was awarded the Mahatma Gandhi Leadership Award at the University of Oxford’s Ashmolean Museum.
- The award honors his dedication to mental health awareness and advocacy, especially through his work as the Commonwealth Year of Youth Champion.
Global Mental Health Summit 2024
- Khurana served as the keynote speaker at the Global Mental Health Summit 2024, held at the Oxford University’s historic Oxford Union.
- His address focused on critical global mental health challenges and the need for collective action from people in positions of influence and power.
Key Statements
- Khurana expressed gratitude for receiving the award, highlighting how his work in mental health advocacy spans many years.
- He emphasized the importance of creating a “mentally sound and safe space in society” and noted that this global recognition has given him a platform to expand his efforts.
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)
- Khurana is attending the CHOGM in Samoa, where he is moderating a session on mental health.
Key participants include
- Fiame Naomi Mata’afa, Prime Minister of Samoa.
- Patricia Scotland, Commonwealth Secretary-General.
- Rabab Fatima, United Nations Under-Secretary-General.
Pause.Breathe.Talk Foundation
- Khurana’s India-based foundation, Pause.Breathe.Talk, aims to make affordable therapy accessible to all sections of society.
- Through this foundation, he hopes to create lasting social change and improve access to mental health support.
Collaboration with Global Leaders
- As a Commonwealth Year of Youth Champion, Khurana stands alongside notable figures such as Prince Edward, brother of King Charles III, who is attending the CHOGM in Samoa as the Head of the Commonwealth.
Impact and Future Goals
- Darasing Khurana is focused on expanding the global dialogue around mental health, particularly in collaboration with international leaders.
- His advocacy work aims to remove the stigma around mental health, making therapy and support more widely accessible, particularly in underserved communities.