Abstract for Symposium The impact of Mahatma Gandhi's views, values and resilience on mental health Outline of the symposium

Change is a dynamic and integrated process of our life. How a person perceives his surroundings and reacts entirely depends upon how well he adapts to the demands of his surroundings. How a person deals with stressful situations and makes a comeback to his normal life is termed as resilience. Mahatma Gandhi’s life was full of such extreme and demanding situations, but the way he effectively dealt with these situations is the matter of study. It was his perseverance and dedication to an unrelenting pursuit of his goal that led to his transformation. His concepts like nonviolence, satyagraha and the concepts related to ‘Truth’ and ‘God’ can give psychological strength and mental resilience to any individual trying to cope up with the demands of life. His way of living is a guide for many to move towards a healthy life. In Gandhi, we can find an integration of life. If his beliefs in spirituality, better social integration, endless love for other living beings, truth and moral values, were to be followed, it would have a significant impact on mental health of individuals. Gandhi inspired people of all races, backgrounds, and religions to turn anger into compassion and hatred into love. For Gandhiji illness seemed almost always mental. He could quote authorities from the West to show this was a scientific fact. Drugs, drinks and smoking cigarettes were among the other things he advised against. Gandhiji pointed various ill-effects of smoking like impaired eye-sight and problems in digestion. Gandhiji further implied that “if every smoker stopped the dirty habit of making his mouth a chimney to foul breath by making a present of his savings to some national cause, he would benefit both himself and the nation.” Through this symposium we would like to highlight the impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s views and values on mental health and how the resilience of Gandhiji’s mind and his unparallel beliefs in goodness made him one of the greatest individuals to have walked in flesh and blood on this earth. Also how his resilience, views and values can have a greater impact in our day to day clinical practice especially in the area of counselling and therapeutic interventions. Introduction: Ramgulam Rajdhan, ex-Professor, HOD Indore Medical College and Pro Chancellor of Malwana University The impact of Mahatma Gandhi’s views and values on mental health: Dr. Sally John, Associate Professor, MGIMS Sewagram Gandhian Way of Resilience and Wellbeing- Dr. K.K Mishra Sir, Professor and HOD, MGIMS, Sewagram