Transdisciplinary Approach to Health and Wellbeing: Insights from Christ College Webinar

 Suneel Vatsyayan showed how blending NADA Ear acupuncture protocol, yoga, naturopathy, and reflexology with social work values can break healthcare barriers—helping drug users, youth, and at-risk groups seek care, stay engaged, and build trust.

IRINJALAKUDA, AUGUST 22, 2025:
As part of the 6th National Social Work Week, the PG and Research Department of Social Work at Christ College (Autonomous), Irinjalakuda, in collaboration with the National Association of Professional Social Workers in India (NAPSWI), hosted a significant webinar on August 21, 2025. The session, “A Talk on Transdisciplinary Approach to Health and Wellbeing,” highlighted the urgent need for collaboration across disciplines to address complex health challenges.

Transdisciplinary Collaboration: A Keynote Perspective

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Suneel Vatsyayan, Chairperson of Nada India Foundation, drew attention to the interconnected nature of health and wellbeing. He argued that wellbeing cannot be measured only by absence of disease but also by a person’s ability to realize their potential, build meaningful connections, and contribute to society.

Mr. Vatsyayan emphasized that substance use, mental health issues, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) demand solutions that go beyond traditional healthcare silos. “No single profession can address the multi-layered challenges of wellbeing,” he noted. “When disciplines come together—medicine, complementary therapies like yoga ,Ear Acupuncture, social work, and lived experience—we create interventions that are not only inclusive but transformative.”

Drawing from his own practice, he described how acupuncture, yoga, naturopathy, and reflexology, when combined with social work principles of empowerment and justice, have the potential to break barriers in healthcare delivery. For marginalized groups such as drug users or young people at risk of NCDs, such integration improves help-seeking behavior, retention in care, and trust-building with service providers.

Lifestyle Is Communicable: Rethinking Prevention

One of the striking insights from the session was the framing of lifestyle as “communicable.” Unlike NCDs, which often develop silently over long gestation periods, lifestyle choices—such as diet, exercise, tobacco use, and alcohol consumption—spread rapidly within families and communities.

“Non-communicable diseases stay with you, often silently — they are static. But the lifestyle that shapes them is anything but silent; it's communicable, influencing the people and environment around you every day.”
— Suneel Vatsyayan, MSW,ADS & Registered NADA Trainer 

This perspective calls for a shift in prevention strategies. Instead of waiting for disease symptoms to appear, interventions must proactively shape healthier environments, habits, and peer cultures. Here, social work plays a crucial role in mobilizing communities, advocating policy change, and empowering young people to adopt sustainable practices.

Models of Treatment: Beyond Disease-Centered Approaches

The discussion also touched on treatment models for addiction and behavioral health. While the disease model frames addiction as a chronic, relapsing condition comparable to diabetes, it often neglects the emotional and social roots of substance use.

In contrast, the NADA ear acupuncture protocol offers a non-verbal, client-centered, barrier-free approach. It creates a calming environment that reduces cravings and anxiety while respecting the dignity of the individual. This makes it especially effective for those hesitant to engage in verbal counseling.

When paired with social work interventions—which address trauma, family dynamics, stigma, and systemic barriers—such treatments offer a more holistic pathway to recovery. As Vatsyayan observed, “Both acupuncture and social work share a common goal: helping the body, mind, and community help themselves.”

Adolescence, Addiction, and Recovery

The session also highlighted the unique vulnerabilities of adolescents and young adults, where drug use often begins. Adolescence is not just a biological stage but a spiritual and psychological passage marked by mood swings, identity struggles, and a need for independence. Drugs, in this context, become an “escape at any price” from unresolved pain or lack of belonging.

Treatment, therefore, is not simply about managing withdrawal symptoms but about supporting identity formation, building resilience, and fostering social connections. Recovery, as emphasized in the session, is essentially an “inside job,” but one that can be nurtured by supportive structures, peer groups, and caring professionals.

Preparing the Next Generation of Social Workers

Dr. Anish K.R., Associate Professor at Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, added depth to the conversation by situating these insights within the evolving landscape of professional practice. He discussed the opportunities and challenges for social workers in transdisciplinary settings, stressing the importance of equipping young professionals with skills for collaboration across medicine, psychology, community development, and public health.

His reflections encouraged students to see themselves not just as service providers but as bridge-builders—professionals who can integrate diverse perspectives and mobilize resources to address layered health and social problems.

Student Takeaways and Reflections

The interactive segment of the webinar allowed students and researchers to engage directly with the speakers. Participants explored practical strategies for integrating social work into health promotion, particularly in addressing youth vulnerability, addiction prevention, and NCD management. Many highlighted how the session helped them reimagine their role beyond clinical or community boundaries, reinforcing the idea that wellbeing is a shared responsibility across professions.

Conclusion: Health as a Collective Responsibility

The Christ College webinar was more than an academic exchange—it was a call to action. By embracing a transdisciplinary approach, social work education and practice can prepare professionals to move beyond disciplinary silos and contribute to holistic, people-centered health systems.

The session concluded with a strong message: health and wellbeing are not the exclusive domain of doctors, therapists, or social workers alone. They are a collective responsibility, demanding cooperation, humility, and innovation across fields. For NADA Acudetox Counselling trainings please visit https://www.nadaindia.info/acudetox-india