Shrinkhla Sahai: Breaking Mental Health Barriers for Women

I am Shrinkhla Sahai, Co-founder and Lead Psychologist at Swayam Foundation, a mental health nonprofit dedicated to making care accessible to underserved women in North India.

For nearly a decade, we have supported over 5,000 women through mental health support groups, crisis intervention, and resilience-building programs. Our culturally rooted approach creates safe spaces for women—often silenced by stigma—to heal, express, and rebuild their lives.

A core part of our work is training and mentoring women community mental health workers, equipping them with the skills to support their own communities. These women become first responders to distress, breaking generational cycles of trauma. In rural Uttar Pradesh, during a women’s sharing circle, I asked, “Aap sachmuch kaise hain?” (How are you, really?)—a question met with tears. No one had ever asked them that before. That moment reaffirmed why this work is critical.

Women’s leadership in mental health ensures care reaches those who need it most. By empowering more women in this space, we are not just supporting mental well-being—we are transforming communities.

Shrinkhla Sahai

Co-founder and Lead Psychologist, Swayam Foundation