PhD student’s Letters of Compassion initiative

PhD student Priyanka Joshi started up an initiative in her homeland of India to spread hope and kindness just after Covid hit all our lives which saw her write over 120 letters to strangers to bring a bit of light into their lives. 

Priyanka says she is now starting a Glasgow Chapter to spread the same hope and compassion and decided that, with September being Suicide Awareness month, it was an appropriate time to spread her message of compassion and care. 

“Letters of Compassion” is the hand-written lettering initiative by Priyanka who, as well as being a PhD researcher here at Strathclyde Business School, is a solo parent and founder of Sanity Daily.  

Priyanka explained, "I think we really need this in our society where every second person we meet is going through a rough patch in life. Some individuals simply don’t open up, share or seek help. A simple letter filled with calming words and kindness can bring a smile to someone’s face, and that is all I aim to do through this initiative. 

"It's just a small commitment to spread hope and kindness in our society and a reminder that connection and community is so important for our mental wellbeing. My aim is to bring back the little joy of writing letters to each other and instil the importance of community support." 

You can find out how to get involved here 

Published: 10 September 2026