Westland Books launches Homecoming- India’s First Anthology of 11 Women Leaders Navigating Severe Mental Health Challenges

New Delhi, September 30, 2025: At a deeply moving evening that blended mental health lived experiences and community solidarity, Westland Books yesterday launched Homecoming: Mental Health Journeys of Resilience, Healing and Wholeness co-authored by Neha Kirpal and Dr Nandini Murali, at the India Habitat Centre, Delhi.

Launched in partnership with the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), the book is a first-of-its-kind collection that brings forth the voices of 11 women leaders, including entrepreneurs, activists, psychiatrists, philanthropists and educators, who share their stories of navigating severe mental health challenges in India.

With nearly 200 attendees, the launch event became a deeply supportive and meaningful evening, as contributors shared their experiences of living with depression, schizophrenia, chronic anxiety, bipolar disorder, OCD, suicide loss, and inter-generational trauma in a safe space that encouraged openness and trust.

Neha Kirpal and Dr. Nandini Murali, along with contributors Dr. Poornima Viswanathan, Zainab Patel, Dr. Kavita Arora, Sidrah Naiyer, Kairavi Bharat Ram, Dr. Pheroza J. Godrej, and Janani Iyer, took the stage to share their diverse mental health journeys of courage, healing, and wholeness. They also read excerpts from the stories by Dr. Rhaisa R.M. and Aparna Piramal Raje. The contributors’ openness and candour made the evening both emotional and profoundly supportive, creating a safe space of empathy and connection even among strangers in the audience.

The event brought together members of civil society, the legal and healthcare sectors, and business leaders, many of whom shared their own family experiences, sending a powerful message about collective sharing, action, and impact.

Speaking at the event, Neha Kirpal (Amaha Health, Children First, India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA) and formerly India Art Fair) said, “As someone who has lived the reality of being a caregiver to a parent with schizophrenia and as a sibling suicide loss survivor, I know first-hand that sharing lived experience expertise is critical for developing mental health services and systematic change. ‘Homecoming’ brings first-person narratives to amplify and champion - mainstreaming mental health in India. We hope this book inspires courage and hope for individuals, while also nudging schools, colleges, workplaces, and governments to build more compassionate, responsive mental health ecosystems.”

Adding to this, Dr. Nandini Murali (Founder, SPEAK, Vice-President – Learning & Research at Avtar, gender and diversity professional, and author) said, “Women often carry invisible burdens of caregiving, stigma, and marginalization, yet their experiences remain largely absent from mainstream mental health discourse. As someone who has navigated suicide loss, I know the courage it takes to share your story. Each contributor to ‘Homecoming’ has brought their experiences with honesty and intention not just to be heard, but to highlight these challenges and push for systemic change. My hope is that these narratives move from the margins to the centre, showcasing women’s dignity, survival, and resilience, and inspiring more compassionate and responsive mental health care”

By weaving together deeply personal stories from women leaders, Homecoming draws urgent attention to India’s mental health crisis, highlighting how women, in particular, bear the invisible burdens of caregiving, burnout, discrimination, and suppression.