At Mental Health Day Event, Isha Ambani Says Dhirubhai Ambani International School Built to be ‘A Happy Place’

“It is my hope that we can all work together in prioritising mental health because it matters to each and every one of us,” Isha Ambani Piramal, Vice-Chairperson, Nita Mukesh Ambani Junior School (NMAJS) and an alumna of the Dhirubhai Ambani International School (DAIS), said on Thursday as she set the stage for an engaging discussion on the occasion of World Mental Health Day.

Addressing the audience, Isha Ambani introduced the chief guest for the event, Surgeon General of the United States Vivek Murthy, calling it a privilege to have him for a crucial discussion on the issue of mental health.

“I am so pleased to be here with all of you today on World Mental Health Day and also honoured to welcome Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States. Dr Murthy is a spokesman for wellbeing and so many important causes and we couldn’t be more privileged to have him with us today.”

Noting how the school believed in prioritising mental health, she said: “Here at our school, we live by a set of values. Underneath these values such as respect, trust, and compassion, lies an understanding that the wellbeing of the community is inherent to our growth and inherent to our culture. My mother, she built this school, prioritised wellbeing and envisioned DAIS as a happy place where learning is a joy and teaching a pleasure. It is my hope that we can all work together in prioritising mental health because it matters to each and every one of us. Once again, it is my pleasure to be here and host Admiral Vivek Murthy.”

The 21st Surgeon General of the United States, Dr Murthy’s mission as the nation’s doctor is to help lay the foundation for a healthier country, relying on the best scientific information available to provide clear, consistent, and equitable guidance and resources for the public.

During his previous tenure as 19th Surgeon General, under President Obama, Murthy created initiatives to tackle our country’s most pressing public health challenges. The first Surgeon General of Indian descent and the youngest active duty flag officer in federal uniformed service, he helped lead the national response to a range of health challenges, including the Ebola and Zika viruses, the opioid crisis, and the growing threat of stress and loneliness to Americans’ physical and mental wellbeing.