Shelf Care

Dr Ashlesha Bagadia was an avid reader and movie buff long before she became a mental health practitioner. For over a decade, she has been using literature and popular media as a platform to engage communities, reduce stigma and create safe spaces for difficult conversations. She is the co-founder of The Green Oak Initiative, a community mental health centre in Frazer Town, which provides mental health care for a diverse range of mental health issues. The organisation also conducts a range of community activities such as book & movie discussions, interactive plays, sports and movement activities, to improve mental wellbeing of the community.

Shilpa Nagaraj first crossed paths with Dr Ashlesha in a professional hospital setting. Their shared love for books and movies sparked lively discussions that led to working closely with Ashlesha, eventually co-deciding the club’s book & movie selections. This journey, from selecting books & movies  to exploring diverse perspectives, fuels their excitement for discussing nuances of mental health of literary characters. She is also a Clinical Psychologist affiliated with The Green Oak Initiative.