Improvisation of mental health: creating an interactive platform for the people during their daily commute in metropolitan cities

Abstract

Working and Mental health have usually been focused on in many research areas. But in this research paper, the time period of travelling from place to place for work or some other reasons has been implemented in regards to the mental health of the people. With the help of an artistic approach, an open platform is aimed to be formed for the people to interact, share and listen to each other's stories concerning mental health challenges by ignoring the stigmatised notion of the same. The methodology used comprised extensive secondary and primary research. The study was conducted mainly in Indian metropolitan cities. Distribution of surveys was conducted remotely on ‌mental health and the various perceptions of it, continuing with one-on-one interviews with a total of 16 volunteers from the three major target audience groups - artists, mental health professionals and mental health challengers. After receiving the results from the methodology tools, a device was created for interaction among the people who commute by metro trains. Through this device, tasks were given out for the users/travellers for them to perform during their commute with an end incentive attached to it.