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Wysa to Develop Hindi Version of World’s Most Popular Mental Health App

Plans to offer AI therapy chat over WhatsApp for easier access

BENGALURU, India, Oct. 12, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Wysa, the world’s leading AI-based digital companion for behavioral health, today announces plans for a Hindi language mental health app, which will also be accessible through WhatsApp. ACT, a non-profit venture philanthropy platform, is supporting the initiative and is seeking a co-funding partner to propel the development further. The pilot is expected to commence in early 2023.

Says Neetha Joy, Director – Healthcare at ACT, “This is a first of a kind effort for us, to partner with an established player to make a proven solution accessible to millions. With 14% of our population suffering from mental health disorders and the pandemic exacerbating the lack of access to quality care, we need innovative solutions to address this chasm as there aren’t enough trained care providers to meet this latent demand.”

The first iteration of the Hindi app will guide users through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) exercises via text with a mobile phone-based conversational agent, to help users manage depression and anxiety. The app will guide users who show moderate to severe symptoms towards a clinical program and wellness tools to others.

Wysa is popular with employers and healthcare providers due to its scalability and low cost. Being an AI-based app, Wysa overcomes the stigma and privacy concerns that often prevent people seeking help for their mental health. Wysa’s English mental health app has to date served approximately 528,000 people in India, primarily through large multinational employers and direct-to-consumer downloads.

Despite its popularity, the lack of Hindi language support remains a barrier in reaching diverse socio-economic groups and demographics. Offering an app in Hindi aims to reduce this access barrier, as a large proportion of the country is conversant in Hindi, and it brings a proven and tangible mechanism to increase communication and access for the vast majority of communities in India.

As well as overcoming the language barrier, making Wysa’s AI therapy conversational agent available through WhatsApp aims to appeal to people who prefer to avoid downloading new apps. There are 487 million WhatsApp users in India, making it the top messenger application in the country. WhatsApp is not only ubiquitous but also ensures high user engagement, as much of the population relies on it for regular communication, helping therapy dialogue become a part of everyday life.

“In our ambition to help 50 million users by 2025, we must go beyond the barriers of literacy and language to create access to mental health support for all. We’ve shown that therapy through Wysa appeals to those who are unwilling to come forward to talk about their mental health problems. We have a long way to go in overcoming mental health stigma in India, but with this Hindi version of our universally popular app, delivered through WhatsApp, is a great place to start,” said Jo Aggarwal, CEO and Co-founder at Wysa.

“Ludwig Wittgenstein said – ‘The limits of my language online mean the limits of my world.’ By providing mental health support in Hindi, one of the most popular languages used in India, via WhatsApp, a platform that most Indians have access too even in rural areas, we are lowering the digital divide, moving closer to our goal of providing scalable, equitable and accessible emotional support,” added Smriti Joshi, Chief Psychologist at Wysa.

“A large part of the population in India primarily speaks in Hindi, which poses a huge language barrier for availing mental health support in addition to the stigma. Wysa in Hindi has the capability of reaching not just the metro cities but also tier 2 and 3 cities where mental health issues are more prominent and less talked about. With the simplicity of this app and science-backed techniques such as CBT, it is hugely beneficial for Hindi speakers to get guidance in their native language. In my many years of working in the mental health field, I have never seen such an initiative and I am positive that it will benefit a lot of people,” says Dr. Roma Kumar, Clinical Psychologist and Senior Consultant at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.

India mental health facts

  • 14 percent of the population in India is estimated to be suffering from mental disorders
  • 1 Trillion USD lost arising out of mental health conditions in India between 2012 and 2030
  • >70% of the general public in India associate mental health with ‘stigma’ according to a study
  • Approximately 0.75 psychiatrists are available per 100,000 population
  • There are around 0.07 Psychologists/social workers available per 100,000 people in India versus more than 30 in the US
  • <0.1% Mental health allocation in the health budget over the last five years vs. approximately 5 percent allocation in developed countries

(Source Deloitte report “Life Sciences in Healthcare”)

About Wysa:

Wysa is a global leader in AI-driven mental health support, available to individuals directly, through healthcare providers and employer benefits programs. Wysa supports users with the help of an ’emotionally intelligent’ conversational agent. The bot uses evidence-based cognitive behavioral techniques (CBT), meditation, breathing and mindfulness exercises, as well as micro-actions to help users build mental resilience skills. For employers, Wysa offers a workplace solution that caters to the full spectrum of mental health needs. Wysa has facilitated over 400 million conversations in 65 countries across the globe. Wysa works with 20 enterprise partners and 7 million employees worldwide, with partners that include Aetna International, NHS, L’Oreal, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, the UK’s NHS and the Ministry of Health in Singapore.

About ACT:

ACT is a non-profit venture philanthropy platform that was born in 2020 in response to the COVID crisis. It is built upon the premise that collective action has the power to achieve social impact at scale. ACT aims to catalyse social change through action and collaboration across the board including startup founders, donors, NGO’s, expert advisors, government stakeholders as well as the public at large. Grants are given as seed capital to incubate and accelerate innovations that have demonstrated ability to address identified social need gaps at scale – within education, healthcare, climate action and gender inclusivity.

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World Phygital Community Announces Global Qualifying Tournament Season 2025/2026

Season anticipated to be biggest ever before the Games of the Future 2026 in Kazakhstan

HONG KONG, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the World Phygital Community (WPC) announces the 2025/2026 ranking tournament season for athletes and clubs aiming to qualify for the Games of the Future in Kazakhstan next year. Running from August 1st to December 15th, 2025, the tournaments hosted by WPC members worldwide, will provide the opportunity for clubs and athletes to show their prowess in phygital sports and qualify to compete at the largest global phygital sport’s event next year.

During the season, phygital competitors will participate in a round of regional tournaments within each participating country called Phygital Origins, followed by national tournaments, which are called Phygital Rivals.

Dan Merkley, Chairperson of the WPC, said, “This new season will be the biggest ever. With 96 World Phygital Community members across 92 countries, this is the chance for anyone who wants to be part of this fast-growing phenomenon to step up and prove themselves. Phygital sport is for everyone, and we are eager to see which phygital superstars emerge this season.”

Tournaments can feature the following core disciplines: Phygital Football, Phygital Basketball, Phygital Shooter and Phygital Dancing. The first three consist of two stages—a digital round, where athletes compete in a video game version of the discipline, followed by a physical round, where they face off in a real-world version of the discipline. Phygital Dancing tournaments use well-known dancing video games to deliver the phygital experience in a single stage.

Following conclusion of these tournaments in December, rankings are calculated and the top two clubs and athletes in each discipline will go straight through to the Games of the Future 2026, while clubs and athletes placed 3rd – 26th will go through to the Phygital Contenders tournament to fight for their place at the event.

Prior to the season starting, all WPC members can apply to host Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals tournaments from May 1st till July 31st, 2025.

Notes to Editors:

About the World Phygital Community (WPC):

The World Phygital Community (WPC) is a non-profit, international organization that aims to promote phygital sport worldwide by uniting physical and digital communities globally. It is responsible for providing guardianship of the rules and regulations of phygital sport and hosting the Phygital Origins and Phygital Rivals. The winners from the Phygital Origins progress to the Phygital Rivals, facing other Phygital Origins winners, for a chance to compete at the Games of the Future.

For more information please visit: https://worldphygital.org/

About the Games of the Future (GOTF):

 

The Games of the Future is an annual international event that fuses the worlds of physical and digital and is the pinnacle of phygital sport. The tournament brings together the next generation of phygital sporting heroes from all over the world to compete in a diverse range of phygital disciplines and challenges. The Games of the Future 2025 will be held in the UAE while The Games of the Future 2026 will be held in Kazakhstan.

For more information please visit: https://gofuture.games/

Video – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2665161/World_Phygital_Community.mp4

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Phygital athletes competing in the digital part of a phygital ranking tournament.

 

Phygital athletes competing in the physical part of a phygital ranking tournament.

 

World Phygital Community (WPC) Logo

 

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The Internet Is in a Frenzy Over MelBet India’s New Ad Campaign With Sherlyn Chopra

MUMBAI, India, April 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — After a week of teaser-fueled anticipation, international iGaming company MelBet has finally unveiled its long-awaited advertising campaign featuring the flamboyant and glamorous Bollywood star Sherlyn Chopra. The teaser of the ad campaign has already sparked a wave of excitement across the internet, and now netizens are going gaga over the full ad – and for good reason. Furthermore, the ad has also caught the attention of industry experts, making waves in the latest iGaming industry news.

#LadyLuck

The ad takes viewers on a visually stunning journey, where Sherlyn, draped in opulence, captivates the screen with her magnetic presence. With effortless charisma, she invites players to dive into the world of MelBet and try new games. As the anticipation builds, the film takes a hilarious turn—when it’s time to wrap up, Sherlyn calls for someone to say ‘cut’, only to find that everyone is too engrossed in logging into the MelBet app to respond. The moment is pure gold, capturing the thrill and immersive excitement that the MelBet app delivers.

https://youtu.be/y_F2kouwkNI

A Viral Sensation in the Making

Even before its full release, the teaser has ignited social media. Fans are raving about Sherlyn’s dazzling look, the ad’s playful humor, and its high-energy appeal.

The campaign’s overwhelming response is a testament to the fact that gaming isn’t just about winning—it’s about the rush, the unpredictability, and the unforgettable moments along the way. In short, it is about adding emotions to the game.

Speaking about the ad, Sherlyn Chopra, said, “It was a real pleasure to shoot this campaign! MelBet is not just about a game, it’s a ton of emotion and excitement from a wide selection of entertainment, exciting promotions with high bonuses. Seeing people go crazy over the teaser already is so exciting! I’m thrilled for audiences to see the full version and, of course, to keep having fun with the MelBet app!”

A MelBet representative highlighted that Sherlyn Chopra brings a unique energy and charisma that aligns perfectly with MelBet’s vision. MelBet wanted this campaign to be bold, fun, and unforgettable, just like the brand—and Sherlyn delivers that effortlessly. The overwhelming response to the campaign proves that this campaign is striking the right chord. MelBet is confident that it will reinforce MelBet India app as the ultimate destination for entertainment.

About MelBet

MelBet is an international iGaming company founded in 2012 that has won the trust of millions of players thanks to its user-friendliness on all devices, partnership with leading game developers and 24/7 customer support. Clients of the brand regularly participate in numerous lucrative promotions, receiving bonuses and valuable prizes.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_F2kouwkNI

 

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UNITED BREWERIES, WELLA, JIO BP TO LEAD FOR HOUSE OF ROSE PROFESSIONAL’S 2025 INDIA EDITION OF BREAK THE CEILING TOUCH THE SKY®

India’s most successful organizations and inspirational leaders to convene on Sept 30, 2025 in Mumbai.

MUMBAI, India, April 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — House of Rose Professional Pte Ltd.  (HORP), announced today that the 2025  India Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky® (BTCTTS)- the success and leadership summit for women  will be held in  Mumbai, India on Sept. 30, 2025. United Breweries the Wella Company and Jio BP are leading as early partners for the summit.  HORP also called out India as a priority market for leadership excellence in support of India’s status as the fastest growing major economy in the world.  The summit will also celebrate the 2025 Break the ceiling touch the sky® Most Inspirational Women in Leadership in India list which will be announced ahead of the summit on Sept 30.  

Break the ceiling touch the sky® is a rapidly growing community of the world’s most inspirational female executives across industries. The 2025 India Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky® offers participating organizations opportunities to: Network and build powerful new business connections; enhance their corporate reputation and employer brand; exchange best practices on leadership, Diversity & Inclusion, and success across industries and  train their leadership talent for greater contribution and impact.  The summit will include inspirational sharings on the future of work and leadership, the road to the C-suite, global leadership in a complex but interconnected world and also showcase valuable insights from HORP’s proprietary global research on gender balance and business impact. 

Research shows that gender- balanced led Companies outperform non gender-balanced led Companies. India has an incredible opportunity ahead of it with under 8% of executive management team members and under 18% of Boards members of Fortune India 500 Companies being female.  

Kavita Singh, Chief Human Resources Officer, United Breweries Ltd., shared, “Our purpose is to brew the joy of true togetherness to inspire a better world. We are pleased to partner with Break the ceiling touch the sky® and support this coming together of so many diverse minds and best practices from the world’s best companies and leaders and accelerate gender diversity in the workplace. Our message to women in leadership is to be assertive, and trust in your ability to break barriers. The ceiling isn’t as high when you decide to push past it.” 

Pravesh Saha, General Manager, South Asia, Wella Company shared,Max Amen, Managing Director – UK & Ireland,  The Wella Company commented, “At Wella Company, we empower people to look, feel, and be their true selves. As an innovative global leader in the beauty industry, we combine our iconic 140+ years of history and industry expertise with our dynamic growth as a category-leading company. With this in mind, we are immensely proud to continue our partnership with Break the Ceiling Touch the Sky®  in India, in our shared mission to enable and inspire people to achieve greater success. Since 2017, we have partnered across multiple regions, reinforcing our commitment to driving positive impact.”

Nishi Vasudeva, Former Chairman & Managing Director, HPCL and Independent Director on the Boards of L&T Finance, Tata Power Renewable Energy and Crisil and Consultant, House of Rose Professional shared, “The advantages of gender balanced leadership have been extensively documented with the clear takeaway that gender balanced led companies deliver better on business, growth and social impact. The world’s largest and most respected Companies are becoming increasingly gender diverse at the top. The sharing of best practices amongst India’s most successful leaders at Break the ceiling touch the sky® is an excellent opportunity to invest not just in women, but in sustainable, better businesses.” 

Added Sam Balsara, Chairman, Madison World; “I have been involved as a speaker at Break the ceiling touch the sky® for several years and also honoured to serve as a current Break the ceiling touch the sky® Global Male Champion for Gender Equality. As a premier Media Agency, Madison has a unique role in shaping attitudes and mindset of leaders towards women overall and the continued advancement of women in leadership as a critical enabler of business. I am looking forward to sharing and learning at the 2025 India Edition of Break the ceiling touch the sky®.

Commented Anthony A. Rose, Chairman and CEO of House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd. Ltd and author of the book Break the Ceiling Touch the Sky: success secrets of the world’s most inspirational women which inspired the summit, “The Break the ceiling touch the sky® summit enables companies to learn rapidly across industries amongst the world’s most successful companies (versus reinventing the wheel internally),  develop their leaders and accelerate business growth via gender-balanced leadership. We are delighted to be able to contribute to incredible India’s growth story via the Break the ceiling touch the sky® summit.”  

Since 2014, Break the Ceiling Touch the Sky®  has enabled the success of  over  50,000 leaders across over 600 companies globally via 38 international summits and other trainings. House of Rose Professional Pte. Ltd. (HORP) is a leader in global executive development via its Talent (BeliEVE® executive search) Training (Break the ceiling touch the sky® – the success and leadership summit for women) and Transformation (CEOSmith® – reputation, executive excellence and business advisory services for the C-Suite) verticals.  

TO LEAD AS A CORPORATE SPONSOR please email anthony@houseofroseprofessional.com 

TO SIGN AS A PARTICIPATING COMPANY visit https://houseofroseprofessional.com/india-edition-2025/ 

MEDIA AND CUSTOMER  INQUIRIES:

Anthony A. Rose at anthony@houseofroseprofessional.com

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