Why I Believe Philanthropy Must Rethink Mental Health Work

Mental Health Cannot Be Separated from Lived Reality

In my work with NT-DNT and other marginalised communities, I have repeatedly seen how mainstream mental health frameworks fall short.

When someone is struggling to find food, safety, or dignity, asking them to focus only on “individual well-being” becomes meaningless. Early attempts to introduce counselling or psychiatric models into these communities often did not work — not because people resisted help, but because the help did not speak their language.

Mental distress here is not only emotional. It is social. It is historical. It is collective.

This is what I mean when I saiy that mental health cannot be treated in isolation from caste, gender, poverty, and exclusion.

This YourStory article captures this conversation in greater detail, situating my perspective within a broader call for systemic change in mental health philanthropy.

Reference:https://yourstory.com/socialstory/2025/01/how-philanthropy-can-help-inclusive-mental-health