Volunteer for Chennai's Mental Health Fest: Adaiyalam

Adaiyalam, Chennai's Mental Health Fest, is back for 2026, and we're building it with a small team that punches above its size. This year, we want that team to be bigger.

The festival happens on 5th July, 10am to 6pm, at IITM Research Park. It's a full day of conversations, performances, stalls, and spaces built around this year's theme, Illusion of Normality, looking at how the idea of normal gets used to quieten people across gender, caste, neurodivergence, mental illness, class, and culture.

None of this runs on its own. Every session that starts on time, every stall that gets set up, every reel that goes out, every person who walks in and feels welcomed, that's volunteers. If you've ever wanted to see how an event like this actually comes together, from the inside, this is that chance.

We're looking for volunteers across:

Design & Creative Team, for the visual identity that runs through everything from posters to stage backdrops

Photography & Videography, to capture the day as it happens

Social Media & Content, to help tell the story before, during, and after

Writing & Documentation, for everything from captions to recaps

Hospitality & Registration, the first faces attendees see

Speaker & Venue Coordination, keeping the day running smoothly behind the scenes

Outreach & Community Engagement, building bridges with colleges, organisations, and communities

Technical & Stage Support, making sure the AV and the stage hold up through the day

Logistics & Stall Management, the backbone of the event space itself

We're also looking for someone to MC the event, if that's where your energy lives.

Whether you have a few hours or a few weeks to give, whether you're a student figuring out where your interests lie or someone who's done this kind of work before, there's a place for you here. This isn't about ticking a volunteering box. However, we need you in person on 3rd to 5th July 2026.

It's about being part of a space that's trying to do mental health differently, and being there when it comes alive.

If this sounds like you, apply here: https://forms.gle/iXunJSqR9F6dTnLj8

Adaiyalam Team, House of Hibiscus