Community Based Programming

Community-based programming is central to IRD’s approach to advancing mental health inclusion and advocacy. Through arts, storytelling, and participatory theatre, IRD creates platforms that amplify the voices of people with lived experience of psychosis and other mental health conditions. Initiatives such as Theatre of the Oppressed and SALT (Support, Appreciate, Listen, Transform) workshops foster dialogue, empathy, and collective reflection, bringing together participants, caregivers, and mental health professionals to challenge stigma and discrimination. These creative spaces position individuals with lived experience not only as recipients of care, but as partners in shaping solutions.

By integrating arts-based approaches into mental health programs and research, IRD strengthens social inclusion, peer support, and community advocacy. Partnerships with public health institutions, arts organizations, and advisory groups promote meaningful participation of people with lived experience in program design and knowledge sharing. These community platforms have informed research and service delivery while supporting broader initiatives in youth resilience, workplace well-being, and health communication — demonstrating the lasting impact of inclusive, arts-driven engagement in advancing mental health awareness across Pakistan.