The Illusion of Normality: Why This Mental Health Festival is More Than Just a Trend
There’s something profoundly ironic about the fact that in a world obsessed with productivity, we’ve turned ‘self-care’ into another item on our to-do lists. Personally, I think this is where events like Adaiyalam, Chennai’s annual mental health festival, become more than just feel-good gatherings—they’re acts of rebellion. Organized by the Hibiscus Foundation, this year’s theme, ‘Illusion of Normality,’ isn’t just catchy; it’s a mirror held up to a society that often confuses busyness with purpose.
What makes this particularly fascinating is how the festival flips the script on mental health conversations. Instead of lectures or panels, it uses card games, theater, and even a ‘pause space’ to engage participants. From my perspective, this isn’t just about making mental health ‘fun’—it’s about dismantling the idea that self-reflection has to be serious or clinical. For instance, the Love Hope Company’s wheel of reflective prompts? Genius. It’s like turning therapy into a game, which, if you take a step back and think about it, is exactly what many people need to lower their guard.
One thing that immediately stands out is the festival’s focus on youth voices. Aksheyaa Akilan, the founder of Hibiscus Foundation, rightly points out that young people are often the ones shaping these conversations, yet their insights rarely make it to the policy table. The youth summit, in collaboration with SCARF and The Banyan, isn’t just a side event—it’s the heart of the festival. What this really suggests is that mental health advocacy isn’t complete unless it’s intergenerational. And yet, what many people don’t realize is how rare these platforms are. How often do we actually ask young people what they need, instead of assuming we know?
A detail that I find especially interesting is the ‘What did you normalize?’ wall by Imaara Survivor Support Foundation. It’s a simple idea, but it’s powerful because it forces us to confront the invisible chains we’ve learned to live with. Whether it’s gender-based violence or everyday microaggressions, normalization is the enemy of change. This wall isn’t just a display—it’s a call to action. If you think about it, normalization is the quietest form of oppression, and this festival is shouting back.
In my opinion, the most underrated aspect of Adaiyalam is its intersectional approach. The theater-based session on mental health, caste, and climate isn’t just a workshop—it’s a reminder that mental health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. What makes this particularly important is how it challenges the Westernized, individualistic lens through which mental health is often viewed. From my perspective, this is where the festival truly breaks new ground. It’s not just about ‘you’—it’s about the systems, cultures, and environments that shape ‘you.’
This raises a deeper question: Can festivals like this actually move the needle on policy? Aksheyaa believes so, and I’m inclined to agree. By compiling youth recommendations into a policy reference document, Adaiyalam isn’t just creating a moment—it’s building a movement. But here’s the thing: for this to work, we need more than just good intentions. We need policymakers to listen, and we need these conversations to outlast the two-day event.
As I reflect on this, I’m struck by how Adaiyalam isn’t just a festival—it’s a symptom of a larger cultural shift. In a world where ‘normal’ often means toxic productivity and silence around mental health, events like this are both a response and a challenge. Personally, I think the real illusion of normality is the idea that we’ve got it all figured out. We don’t. And maybe, just maybe, that’s okay.
So, if you’re in Chennai on July 5th and 6th, head to Anna Centenary Library. It’s free, it’s open to all, and it might just change the way you think about ‘normal.’ Because, in the end, isn’t that what we all need? A little less normal and a lot more real.
