The School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Presidency University, organised a two-day International Conference titled “Navigating Mental Health Through the Gateway of Language and Literature” on 22 and 23 December 2025. The conference explored the intersections of mental health with language, literature, psychology, and allied interdisciplinary fields, encouraging critical dialogue and collaborative inquiry.

 

The event attracted 196 delegates, including academicians, researchers, practitioners, students, and mental health professionals from India and abroad. The diverse participation enabled rich interdisciplinary and cross-cultural exchanges.

 

The conference featured distinguished invited speakers: Mr Vasudhendra, acclaimed Indian author and queer rights activist; Dr Syam Sudhakar, bilingual poet; Dr Ashwini N. V., Director of the Muktha Foundation; Dr Gayathri Devi, Professor of English at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Georgia, USA; and Dr Spoorthi from the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, NIT Warangal. Their sessions offered valuable perspectives on mental health narratives, literary representations, lived experiences, and therapeutic practices through language and art.

 

The programme comprised plenary sessions, masterclasses, and technical sessions. Plenary talks addressed broader theoretical frameworks and global perspectives on mental health in the humanities. The masterclasses focused on practical and innovative approaches, including bibliotherapy and AI-assisted education.

 

On 22 December, Mr Vasudhendra spoke on self-acceptance and the transformative power of embracing one’s identity, highlighting the therapeutic role of language and literature in mental well-being. Dr Syam Sudhakar reflected on art as a sustaining force that nurtures inner contentment and rekindles the human spirit. Dr Ashwini N. V. conducted a masterclass titled “Bibliotherapy: Exploring the Mental Health Benefits of Literature”, emphasising empathy-building and emotion-centred literary engagement.

 

The plenary session on 23 December was delivered by Dr Gayathri Devi on “The Invisible Weight: Mental Health Crisis in Higher Education”. She discussed telehealth interventions, peer-support platforms, and the prevalence of post-traumatic stress in academic spaces, underscoring the need for structured support systems in higher education. The masterclass on “AidED (AI-Assisted Education)” by Dr Spoorthi provided hands-on training in the use of artificial intelligence tools for teaching and research.

 

The technical sessions across both days featured scholarly presentations on psychology, language, literature, cultural studies, trauma narratives, identity, and interdisciplinary research. Overall, the conference highlighted the transformative role of language and literature in understanding and addressing mental health concerns and concluded with a call for sustained interdisciplinary collaboration to promote mental well-being and social inclusivity