Underlying mental health issues can be exacerbated by the emotional stress of divorce. This journey, from a private life to a public space like a court, is not an easy one. Add to this the circuitous journey of hearings, which last months, sometimes, years. But, a duo from TISS is slowly making a difference by prioritising mental health of litigants. On May 2, the Bombay High Court finally recognised their efforts and set up a first-of-its-kind counselling centre on its premises.

Today, Sukoon, a field action project of the School of Human Ecology, TISS, deals with cases of divorce, child custody and access, maintenance and domestic violence. Sukoon is also involved in pre-litigation counselling at Bombay HC. The journey to setting up the service has been a long one.