MUMBAI: ?Chime For Change?, which is Gucci?s new global campaign for girls? and women?s empowerment, has released the list of broadcasters that will be airing ?The Sound Of Change Live? concert event. The concert which takes place today and will reach up to one billion people in over 150 countries worldwide.

In the US, NBC will air the show the day after the live event in London. The concert event, which will be broadcast across six continents, brings together some of the world?s most talented artists and internationally renowned activists to raise awareness of issues affecting girls and women, and raise funds for non-profit organisations pursuing change. In addition to Star and NBC, The BBC, Rotana and WoWow are among the broadcasters set to air ?The Sound Of Change Live? concert event to households around the world.

Chime For Change co-founder, artistic director and singer Beyonc? Knowles-Carter will perform a 45-minute special set and will lead the performers including Florence + the Machine, HAIM, Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Lopez, John Legend, Laura Pausini, Rita Ora and Timbaland.

Knowles-Carter said, "I am really happy that so many amazing artists and presenters have come together to support ?Chime For Change? on 1 June. Our goal is to have a great time together while we unite and strengthen the voices of girls and women around the world."

Madonna will join presenter line-up which includes actors, musicians, activists, film directors and public figures including Aishwarya Rai, Abhishek Bachchan, Freida Pinto, Gloria Steinem, Gordon and Sarah Brown, James Franco, Jessica Chastain and Zoe Saldana.

Singer Madonna, who is also the founder of the Ray of Light Foundation said, "60 per cent of the children in the world not in school are girls! 2/3 of the world?s illiterate are Women! I do not accept this. We need to change this and we will change this!"

The concert will be produced by Kevin Wall and Aaron Grosky of Control Room in association with Harvey Goldsmith - the forces behind Live Earth and Live Aid. In addition to performances and collaborations from global artists, the live concert, which takes place tomorrow 1 June will also serve as a platform to broadcast inspirational and provocative short films and stories spotlighting girls? and women?s issues globally.

Kevin Wall of Control Room said, "We are thrilled to be producing and distributing The Sound Of Change Live concert event at London?s Twickenham Stadium on the 1st of June and utilising our expertise in producing and distributing global multi-artist charity events to help Gucci raise funds and awareness for girls? and women?s issues around the world."

Underwritten by Gucci, all tickets sales (less VAT and service fees) will go towards raising funds for projects, which will be disseminated through Catapult - the first crowd-funding platform dedicated to advancing the lives of girls and women. In a world first, through Catapult, fans will be able to choose exactly which projects their money goes towards and receive updates on their progress. A sell-out concert means that over 120 projects supporting women around the world will be 100 per cent funded.

MUMBAI: BBC World Service has announced a new series ?The Truth About Mental Health? which kicks off from 31 May. The series looks at the radically different attitudes and definitions of mental wellbeing around the world. Presenter Claudia Hammond reports from India, Jordan, Norway, the US, Kenya, Japan and the UK and explores innovative new treatments.

With wide-ranging conditions varying from anxiety and depression, through to post-traumatic stress disorder and psychosis, there are an estimated 450 million people world-wide with mental health problems according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). World-wide, one in four people develop mental or behavioural disorders at some stage in life. The WHO predicts that by 2030 mental health treatments are to become the largest burden on global health resources.
 
Presented by psychologist Claudia Hammond ?The Truth About Mental Health? looks at the enormous ?treatment gap? that exists for mental disorders around the world. In many lower- and middle-income countries, three quarters of people with mental health problems receive no treatment at all. Even in wealthier, high-income countries only between a third and a half receive professional help.

From Africa, to Asia, to the Middle East and Europe, Hammond investigates the alternative ways that people experiencing a broad range of mental health problems seek help within the ?treatment gap?, and explores potential strategies for bridging this gulf in mental health care. Throughout the series, Hammond hears personal stories showing how individuals can have hope that treatment and recovery is possible from a range of distressing mental health conditions.

Hammond said, "This has been a fascinating series to make, meeting everyone from young men living in self-imposed exile in their bedrooms in Japan to survivors of the terrorist shootings on Ut?ya Island in Norway, and Syrian children who have fled appalling violence.

"Everyone I?ve met has been brave enough to talk about the difficulties which are the most personal of all - those involving the mind. Listening to their stories has something to tell all of us about how the human mind works. These are issues which affect our audiences all around the world and we?re lucky because the BBC World Service is uniquely placed to be able to cover these stories."