Fortis Healthcare’s in-patient mental health facility Adayu has partnered with Rishab Rikhiram Sharma’s advocacy platform Sitar for Mental Health to introduce a music-driven well-being initiative aimed at promoting awareness and dialogue around mental health.
The collaboration marks the first time Adayu has integrated a music-centered program within a clinical mental healthcare setting, combining evidence-based treatment with the emotional and therapeutic impact of music.
The initiative aims to foster greater awareness, encourage open dialogue, and promote acceptance around mental health. By bringing together clinical expertise and the emotional resonance of music, the partnership seeks to cultivate empathy, strengthen community-level approaches to mental well-being, and create immersive experiences that connect patients and communities through sound and reflection.
As part of the collaboration, Adayu will incorporate music created by Rishab Rikhiram Sharma across its hospital spaces. This includes a dedicated room where patients can experience the therapeutic benefits of music. Beginning in April, the partnership will also launch a nationwide school outreach program across India to help young people understand emotional balance, resilience, and the role of creativity in preventive mental health.
Over the coming year, the initiative will expand through digital awareness campaigns and community-led engagements designed to normalize conversations around mental health and reach wider audiences through creative platforms.
Dr. Samir Parikh, Chairperson, Mental Health Programme, Fortis Healthcare and Adayu said, “Mental health deserves prioritization. Despite growing awareness, stigma continues to affect millions, leaving many to suffer in silence. When a next-generation icon like Rishab Rikhiram Sharma champions mental health, it sparks crucial conversations and encourages communities to seek help without fear or judgment. Collaborations like these help us reach a wider demographic while fostering greater openness and empathy around mental health.”
Rishab Rikhiram Sharma said, “Music has always been a deeply emotional and spiritual experience for me, but over time I realized it can also be a powerful tool for healing and connection. Through Sitar for Mental Health, my intention has been to use the language of music to open conversations about emotional well-being and help people feel less alone in their struggles. By joining hands with mental health experts like Dr. Parikh and the team at Adayu, we hope to create spaces where people can pause, reflect and feel supported. If music can help even one person feel understood, calm, or encouraged to seek help, then it has served a purpose far beyond performance.”
The collaboration represents a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, where a major hospital network is embracing music as a complementary tool for mental healthcare. By combining clinical expertise with Sharma’s global advocacy, the partnership aims to set a new benchmark for integrating arts, creativity, and healthcare while highlighting the growing recognition of music as a catalyst for emotional healing and preventive mental health.
