About Us

Who We Are

MEHAR (Mental and Emotional Health Awareness Renaissance), a registered nonprofit organization, was inaugurated on January 20, 2018, at the Maja Prentice Theatre in Mississauga, Ontario. Founded by Rekha Vaishnav, Executive Director and Creative Head, MEHAR seeks to raise awareness about mental and emotional health through the transformative power of art.

Driven by personal experiences, Rekha Vaishnav understands the challenges associated with mental health, migration stress, and systemic issues. Rekha believed in the intrinsic power of the connection between art and mental well-being. She established MEHAR to foster this relationship in order to harness this power and positively influence our community's perception of mental health.

MEHAR advocates for increased awareness, recognizing the prevalence of discomfort, shame, and stigma surrounding psychiatric illnesses. We understand the significance of acknowledging /accepting mental and emotional challenges and the impact of embracing an effective, engaging and artistic approach to mental health education.


At the core of our philosophy is the belief that art possesses the capacity to not only heal minds but also to stimulate, challenge, and transform our perspectives on critical life issues. MEHAR is dedicated to creating diverse artistic resources, including skits, monologues, short films, documentaries, and musical projects, to deliver mental health education within our communities.

MEHAR stands as a testament to our commitment to fostering mental and emotional well-being through the fusion of art and education, working collaboratively to bring positive change to our communities.

What we do

In our pursuit of Mental and Emotional Health Awareness Renaissance (MEHAR), we are unwaveringly dedicated to creating artistic resources in the form of short films, documentaries, skits, theatrical presentations, monologues, and musical projects. Our mission revolves around delivering impactful mental health education within our communities, firmly rooted in the belief that art has the unique ability to offer a multisensory understanding of the intricate and profound issues surrounding mental and emotional well-being.


Prior to embarking on any project, MEHAR diligently assembles a well-informed artistic team, ensuring a thoughtful and purposeful approach to our creative endeavours. Since our establishment, we have successfully produced mental health resources in various artistic forms, including:

  1. A documentary on Schizophrenia, titled "Beyond My Unreal World, I Am Still Me."
  2. A short film exploring Bipolar Disorder, titled "In the Highs and Lows, I Am Still Me."
  3. A short film addressing mental health and addiction in youth, titled "The Healing Journey" Part I.
  4. A short film delving into addictions, titled "The Healing Journey" Part II.
  5. A skit focused on Depression. (Theatrical and virtual format)
  6. A skit depicting Bipolar Disorder.(Theatrical and Virtual format)
  7. A skit highlighting Schizophrenia.(Theatrical and virtual format)


Leveraging our unique artistic resources, we conduct tailored sessions for mental health awareness among community groups, organizations, schools, and associations. These sessions encompass screening our short films and skits, accompanied by a customized information session specific to the topic at hand. Facilitated by mental health experts, our sessions have proven to be an engaging and effective means of creating awareness. Participants consistently find our format to be captivating and stimulating.


We invite you to reach out to us for the organization of mental health awareness sessions tailored to your community. MEHAR is committed to fostering understanding, empathy, and positive change through the transformative power of art.

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