Portraits of impact
Find out what our work means to people involved in some of our projects around the world, and the impacts it has had for them and their families
Children take part in a Dance2Kinnect class in Sydney, Australia
The films below capture the experiences of participants in three of The George Institute’s research projects: the ARTEMIS and PRAMH projects in India, and the Dance2Kinnect project in Australia. Scroll down to find out more and hear first-hand from the people involved.
Supporting the mental health of adolescents in urban slums in India
Depression and self harm are a major cause of death and disability for adolescents in India, particularly in informal settlements. Barriers to care include a lack of awareness of mental health needs, stigma, and insufficient healthcare staff.
The George Institute’s ARTEMIS project (Adolescents’ Resilience and Treatment nEeds for Mental health in Indian Slums) aimed to support adolescent mental health in informal settlements by combining a technology-enabled mental health care model with community-based anti-stigma campaigns. ARTEMIS was rolled out across urban slums in Vijayawada and New Delhi, and showed that this approach can help reduce depression, self-harm, and suicide risks among vulnerable youth.
In these films, the young people involved explain the impact the project has had on their mental health, their confidence and their relationships with their friends and families.
Supporting Bazidbee and her family to find solutions to her depression
Helping to reduce Chandrasekhar's anxiety and rebuild his confidence
Supporting Sunaiyna and her mother to address her isolation
Improving wellbeing among Indigenous children in Australia
The Dance2Kinnect (D2K) project aims to strengthen cultural identity, social and emotional wellbeing, and connectedness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people through dance as a culturally meaningful practice, while supporting healthy lifestyles.
The Guunu-maana (Heal) team at The George Institute for Global Health supports D2K through research, governance, and evaluation to ensure the project is community-led, culturally grounded, and guided by Indigenous knowledges and self-determination.
In these films, the young people involved, and their parents, explain the impact the project has had; for themselves, their families and their community.
Strengthening children’s connections with culture, community and Country
Building children’s confidence, friendships and self-esteem
Supporting families and strengthening Indigenous communities
Addressing perinatal mental health problems among women in India
One in five women experience common mental health problems during and after pregnancy, ranging from mild and temporary psychological distress to chronic, progressive and severely disabling conditions. The rates are even higher for women in low- and middle-income countries, but very little research exists on how to support women in rural communities in India during the perinatal period.
The Pregnancy and Mental Health (PRAMH) project is working in partnership with women in Haryana and Telangana to develop a digital screening tool to identify women at risk of mental health disorders, a community-based peer-group intervention, and a campaign to address stigma and discrimination.
In these films, the women describe how attending the group sessions helps them find ways of coping with their challenges, improves their mental wellbeing and relationships with their families, and strengthens their friendships.
