For our second episode, we’re honoured to speak with Dr. Srishti Meera Sardana, a global mental health researcher, clinician, and advocate dedicated to improving mental health outcomes for vulnerable populations worldwide.
We begin by exploring Dr. Sardana’s unique journey, from her early inspirations to her impactful work across diverse settings, including juvenile justice systems in India, humanitarian crises, and global anti-trafficking initiatives. She shares how these experiences shaped her commitment to addressing mental health disparities among low-income households, refugees, and marginalized communities.
Diving into her research, we learn about the founding vision behind the mhSEVA Lab in Wisconsin, her innovative project Ankur, and the importance of recognizing resilience within vulnerable populations.
We then unpack the role of social support networks through the lens of her dynamic social network research in Lebanon for her doctoral thesis at Columbia University. We address systemic barriers including stigma, resource scarcity, and cultural divides in accessing mental health care. Dr. Sardana shares thought-provoking insights from her work with sex workers in India and the U.S., and her efforts in engaging men and boys to prevent gender-based violence.
To close, we explore the future of global mental health, ethical challenges, and systemic changes needed to advance mental health equity worldwide. Dr. Sardana reflects on the realities of working in humanitarian contexts, and the deeper question of what it truly means to “be good and do good unapologetically”.
TW: sexual violence
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