The Literature Today: Your book, “Echoes Of The Mind” combines your professional expertise as a psychiatrist with your personal experiences. What inspired you to channel these into poetry?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: “Echoes of The Mind” is the result of a long-held aspiration of bridging my professional and personal lives. Having passed through childhood trauma and anxiety, I realized that writing poetry can be therapeutic as well as a way to reach out to people going through the same thing. The emotions that I have to deal with in my work as a psychiatrist are sometimes so complicated; but poetry, for me, is the best language to communicate those sometimes-intricate feelings. It also made my healing journey, I hope, the same for my readers.

The Literature Today: Your work specializes in Women’s Mental Health. How do you see the themes in your book addressing the unique challenges faced by women?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: In “Echoes of The Mind,” I explore themes like anxiety, grief, hope, and resilience, which are especially pertinent to women navigating societal pressures, career demands, and family responsibilities. Women often face unique challenges, particularly around perinatal and postnatal mental health. My poems aim to validate these experiences, providing comfort and understanding.

The Literature Today: The book explores complex emotions such as anxiety, grief, and resilience. Which of these topics was the most challenging to write about, and why?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: Grief was one of the hardest emotions to describe in “Echoes of The Mind.” It is deeply personal and isolating, and I wanted my words to be both universally relatable and emotionally poignant. My experiences with grief were personal, as well as professionally acquired, thus requiring a balancing act between authenticity and sensitivity. It was a cathartic but painful process that brought me face-to-face with my vulnerabilities. But it was this that I tried to offer hope and solace to the readers through.

The Literature Today: As a mental health advocate, how do you think poetry can contribute to breaking the stigma surrounding mental health?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: The ability of poetry to humanize the sometimes-clinical world of mental health is unique. It takes the most complex emotions and reduces them into words that can be accessed and shared, fostering empathy and understanding. With “Echoes of The Mind,” I seek to normalize conversations about mental health so that people may talk about their feelings without fear of judgment. Along with my work in the “Decoding Mental Health book” series, poetry becomes a tool for advocacy, breaking down stigma, and fostering a culture of openness and support.

The Literature Today: This collection, “Echoes of The Mind” reflects on self-awareness and emotional healing. How do you hope this book will resonate with readers who may be struggling with their mental health?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: It may reflect “Echoes of the Mind,” allowing the minds of the reader some solace with insight and consolation. Poems have been fashioned to provoke people to care by reaching deep into the human mind to bring tears. People can take heed, comfort within words, be inspired, or venture out into discovering self and their journey towards healing.

The Literature Today: Your company, Decoding Mental Health, is dedicated to mental health awareness. How does this mission align with the themes presented in your book?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: Decoding Mental Health is all about making mental health care accessible and relatable. The themes present in “Echoes of The Mind” perfectly align with that mission by rendering mental health problems in a very poetic form- engaging and challenging to the psyche.

I am also the founder and creator of a book series called Decoding Mental Health, which is an initiative to fight the stigma against mental health as it brings authors from different backgrounds such as psychiatrists, psychologists, teachers, patients, and mental health advocates who got together to share their journeys and perspectives about mental health struggles. Through my work in this series of “Decoding Mental Health” books, I further talk about these challenges and offer practical tools about emotional resilience that further empower, and support self-discovery.

I am humbled to be invited to the World Book Fair 2025 New Delhi to launch the book series. Beyond the books, I have programs like “Decoding Thyself,” a mentorship program that helps women find empowerment through self-discovery and emotional resilience, and the “Metamorphosis Retreat,” a mindfulness, art therapy, and guided session combination for healing. These all, combined with my online psychiatry practice and counseling therapy sessions, make a holistic approach to mental wellness and complement the messages in my books.

The Literature Today: Which poem in the anthology holds the most personal significance to you, and why?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: The poem “Hope” in “Echoes of The Mind” is deeply personal to me. It represents my journey through adversity and my unyielding belief in the possibility of growth and healing. This poem is a testament to resilience, a core theme in both “Echoes of The Mind” and the “Decoding Mental Health” series. It reminds me—and I hope, my readers—that even in the darkest times, there is light to be found.

The Literature Today: What advice would you offer to someone new to exploring their emotions through poetry or creative writing?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: I would tell newcomers to approach poetry with honesty and patience. Let your feelings govern you and do not strive for perfection. Writing is a discovery process, and with every word you write, you are getting closer to understanding yourself better. Poetry can help you face your inner self through writing, so do not shy away from your feelings. I often encourage people in my practice and programs to give in to their creative expressions as a means of clearing up confusing emotions.

The Literature Today: The book invites readers to embrace their innermost thoughts and emotions. What steps do you think are essential for someone beginning their journey of self-discovery?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: Mindfulness and self-reflection mark the beginning of the journey of self-discovery. Journaling, therapy, and supportive communities are essential in exploring one’s values, strengths, and areas for growth. In “Decoding Mental Health” and “Decoding Thyself,” I provide tools and frameworks for navigating this journey, emphasizing the importance of self-compassion and curiosity. Engaging in practices like meditation and art therapy, as we do in the Metamorphosis Retreat, can further deepen this process.

The Literature Today: Looking ahead, do you have plans to further explore the intersection of mental health and the arts, either through poetry or other creative projects?

Dr. Ruhi Satija: Absolutely. I intend to pursue further research at the intersection of mental health and the arts through creative projects. My retreats, such as Metamorphosis, already involve art therapy, Dance and movement therapy, journaling, and mindfulness to aid in healing. I am also working on taking the “Decoding Mental Health” series further to include more interactive and artistic elements, thereby making mental health advocacy more interesting and accessible. Poetry will always be a cornerstone of my work, but I am excited to integrate other forms of creative expression to broaden the impact.