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{{Short description|Mental health organisation based in India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = The Alternative Story
| image = The Alternative Story logo.png
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| founded = {{Start date|df=yes|2018}}
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| location = Bangalore, India
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| origins =
| key_people = Paras Sharma and Rashi Vidyasagar
| region_served = India
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| website = {{URL|https://alternativestory.in/}}
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}}

'''The Alternative Story''' is an Indian [[mental health]] collective which provides counselling services to individuals and organisations based in [[Bangalore|Bengaluru]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murthy |first=Smitha |date=2021-12-26 |title=Bridging gender gaps in mental health |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sunday-herald/sh-top-stories/bridging-gender-gaps-in-mental-health-1063884.html |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref> It aims to provide mental health services that are affordable,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mantri |first=Geetika |date=2021-02-06 |title=India's budget for mental health leaves a lot to be desired: Here's why |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/india-s-budget-mental-health-leaves-lot-be-desired-here-s-why-142931 |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> intersectional feminist, trauma-informed, kink-aware, queer-affirmative and [[Caste system in India|caste]] aware.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://alternativestory.in/about/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=The Alternative Story |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chandana |first=Madhura |date=2018-10-10 |title=Mental Health Care Is Expensive, But 'The Alternative Story' Lets You Pay What You Want! |url=https://www.womensweb.in/2018/10/world-mental-health-day-special-the-alternative-story-oct18wk2mc/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Women's Web: For Women Who Do |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Prateek |date=2019-07-10 |title=Should therapy be political? Influence of social factors on mental health may make a case for such an approach |url=https://www.firstpost.com/living/should-therapy-be-political-influence-of-social-factors-on-mental-health-may-make-a-case-for-such-an-approach-6942831.html |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-10-09 |title=How To Prioritise Self-Care During The Triggering Time Of #MeToo |url=https://feminisminindia.com/2018/10/10/self-care-me-too/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Feminism In India |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== History ==
The group was founded in 2018 by Paras Sharma<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joshi |first=Sonam |date=14 July 2019 |title=Your shrink is now just a click away - Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-times/your-shrink-is-now-just-a-click-away/articleshow/70206350.cms |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> and Rashi Vidyasagar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mental Health Care in India with Rashi Vidyasagar by Foundry Conversations |url=https://anchor.fm/foundryconversations/episodes/Mental-Health-Care-in-India-with-Rashi-Vidyasagar-e1aqa67 |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Anchor |language=en}}</ref> Sharma had produced a podcast, also called ''The Alternative Story'', from 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ghosh |first=Shreesha |date=4 October 2018 |title=Paras Sharma's podcast 'The Alternative Story' is breaking the stigma around mental health in India |url=https://www.edexlive.com/people/2018/oct/04/paras-sharmas-podcast-the-alternative-story-is-breaking-the-stigma-around-mental-health-in-india-4097.html |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Edex Live |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, The Alternative Story was one of 40 national and international organisations to collaborate with Jindal School of Psychology and Counselling in their degree course to provide work placements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 April 2022 |title=Jindal School of Psychology Students Gain Diverse Multi-Disciplinary Experience with Leading Organisations |url=https://www.theweek.in/wire-updates/business/2022/04/11/pwr12-jindal-school-of-psychology.html |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=The Week |language=en}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|COVID-19 pandemic]], counsellors from the group spoke about the increased needs for their services, and the mental health impacts of the lockdowns and other pandemic measures<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khatib |first=Hasina |date=2020-04-06 |title=Everything you need to know about online therapy |url=https://www.vogue.in/wellness/content/online-therapy-in-india-what-to-expect-mental-health |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Vogue India |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Agrawal |first=Soniya |date=2020-04-03 |title=Social stigma towards mental health should not bother you in lockdown. Solution's online |url=https://theprint.in/opinion/pov/social-stigma-towards-mental-health-should-not-bother-you-in-lockdown-solutions-online/394152/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=ThePrint |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as anxiety when measures were lifted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khatib |first=Hasina |date=2020-04-24 |title=10 ways to cheer up a stressed-out friend while social distancing |url=https://www.vogue.in/wellness/content/ways-to-cheer-up-a-stressed-out-friend-while-social-distancing |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Vogue India |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mantri |first=Geetika |date=2021-07-13 |title=Survivor's guilt, COVID-19 and the complex tangle of grief |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/survivor-s-guilt-covid-19-and-complex-tangle-grief-152257 |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref> Members of the Alternative Story have spoken about the impact on people in India and the lack of robust mental health infrastructure.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mantri |first=Geetika |date=2020-12-24 |title=What we need from India's mental healthcare infrastructure in 2021 |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/what-we-need-india-s-mental-healthcare-infrastructure-2021-140206 |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Nigam |first=Richa |date=2021-02-09 |title=Budget 2021 : India's budget for mental health leaves a lot to be desired |url=https://mediaindia.eu/society/mental-health-budget-2021/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Media India Group |language=en}}</ref>

=== Services ===
The organisation provides the following services:
* One-on-one counselling
* Pay What You Want
* Conjoint and family counselling
* Support groups
* Training and workshops
* Webinars
* Online counselling<ref>{{Cite web |title=Services |url=https://alternativestory.in/services/ |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=The Alternative Story |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Isheeta |date=2018-12-15 |title=5 Places Where You Can Seek Online Therapy If You're Struggling With Mental Health Issues |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/lifestyle/5-places-where-you-can-seek-online-therapy-if-you-re-struggling-with-mental-health-issues-358054.html |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=IndiaTimes |language=en-IN}}</ref>
* Certificate course in trauma centred therapy<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murthy |first=Smitha |date=2022-03-27 |title=Healing from trauma |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/sunday-herald/sh-top-stories/healing-from-trauma-1094570.html |access-date=2022-04-13 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Mental Health in India}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2018 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Mental health organisations in India]]
[[Category:Organisations based in Bengaluru]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2018]]

The Alternative Story - Revision history

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