Ananya Birla, an entrepreneur and daughter of industrialist Kumar Mangalam Birla, has been vocal on social media about the need to properly address mental health issues. She recently responded to an old post on X about mental health sick leave. While her response was welcomed by many, a few also took issue with her post, including a man who said, “She seems like an over-zealous woman who has an answer for everything.”
It all started with a post shared by X user Shristi Sharma on November 15, 2022. “Mental health sick leave should exist,” she wrote. On July 3, 2024, Birla responded to the post, writing, “It should!” To which Sharma added, “Yay! This tweet is almost 2 years old. But even today, in many places, mental health leave is not socially accepted and in some cases, it is even rejected.”
A third X user joined the conversation and criticised Ananya Birla. He posted, “Ananya Birla seems to be an over-zealous woman who has an answer for everything. She thinks mental health leave should be issued. But if we talk at the micro and macro corporate level, we see the difference. There is still a taboo around mental health in India.”
“I don’t have the answers, I’m just trying to eliminate the stigma around mental illness in my workplace. But it seems you have all the answers! You know me better than I know myself,” Ananya Birla replied, ending the post with a winking emoji.
What did User X say about this interaction?
People have had a lot to say about Ananya Birla’s interaction with a man who trolled her over an old post about taking sick leave due to mental illness, like this person who advised, “Nice response, but I would generally ignore these tweets.”
Another added: “Brilliant minds and kind hearts are showing the way. Congratulations Ananya,” while a third wrote: “This matter requires a wider discussion and empathetic approach by all business leaders. Congratulations to you for easing the tension and leading by example,” while a fourth responded with a thumbs up emoji.
A fifth respondent wrote: “I remember needing mental health leave in 2016 when demonetisation had just begun in India and my personal life was in turmoil. I know people at work who applied for and were able to get similar leave. Even within companies, people are becoming more understanding over time.”
Ananya Birla is co-founder and vice-chair of Mpower, an organization that helps people dealing with mental health issues. According to its website, the organization works to “empower community professionals, teachers, parents and families” by providing them with resources, training, guidance, diagnostic assessments, therapeutic interventions and psychological counselling.
What do you think about Ananya Birla responding to a man who mocked her for an old post about taking sick leave due to mental illness?
