From India Gate to Wagah border

Fight postpartum depression with a sport: that’s a message Disha Shrivastava intends to literally ‘drive’ across. A resident of Powai, she battled the affliction successfully after taking up a sport. Shrivastava shares that three years ago postnatal depression almost pushed her to thinking about suicide. I’d often think of jumping off my 14th storey home in Powai. She realised that she needed help. Sports therapy worked for me. I took to running and then started riding a bicycle. It really helped me,” she said.

Experiencing the change in her life, she’s now made it her life mission to promote sports to fight depression and mental illnesses among women. Shrivastava, 37, has decided to walk the talk, and will cycle from India Gate in New Delhi to the Wagah Border, Punjab to raise awareness.

Starting off today, she will cover over 600 km and complete her journey in three days. She plans to cover 170 km each day. “Taking up a sport helped me release my negative energy, and I want to spread this message to everyone,” said Shrivastava.

The halts planned are Krukshetra, Amritsar and Ludhiana. She will be meeting women along the way, and will also be meeting other cycling groups.

Apart from being an enthusiastic cyclist, the mother of two, is also an avid marathon runner, trekker, and dancer. “I start my day around 4.30 am. By the time my sons wake up, I return home after cycling,” she said. On Sundays, she rides for longer.

Shrivastava says that she had developed the problem despite support from her husband. But there are women who have to take care of both family and works without much support and they are prone to develop such mental health issue. Dr Bindoo KS, senior consultant, Obsterics and Gynaecologist at Apollo Hospital in Belapur, says, “Postpartum depression is quite common. In some cases though it can get severe and needs to be treated. New mothers should be given space and allowed to do activities that can help relax. For Shrivastava, it was sports.”