The Mind Diaries and The Well-Being Trust

Creating awareness and build a supportive ecosystem around mental health

After years of writing on a wide range of social and human-interest issues, my own life took an unexpected and deeply personal turn with the loss of a loved one to suicide. Grief arrived not just as sorrow, but as a profound reckoning. In the midst of that pain, came a quiet resolve — to ensure that silence, stigma, and lack of access to mental health conversations did not claim more lives. I decided to turn my pain into purpose. I am the co-founder and managing editor of The Mind Diaries and Trustee of The Well-Being Trust, based in New Delhi, India.

This resolve led to the co-founding of The Mind Diaries with Seema Kumar, a former colleague from Hindustan Times, who is equally passionate about the cause of mental well-being. Conceived as India’s first magazine dedicated entirely to mental health and well-being, The Mind Diaries was built on the belief that mental health deserves the same space, seriousness, and compassion as physical health. From the start, the magazine championed open conversations, credible expert insights, lived experiences, and emotional wellness, offering readers both knowledge and comfort.

Now in its fourth year, The Mind Diaries continues to shine a light on critical yet often overlooked aspects of mental well-being through expert-led columns, personal narratives, and practical resources. As the community around the magazine grew, the work expanded beyond publishing, leading to the creation of The Well-Being Trust Through partnerships, events, and sustained engagement, the Trust works actively to break stigma, foster understanding, and build a supportive ecosystem around mental health.

Over the years, we have curated and organised a wide range of conversations and events — from discussions on climate anxiety and the brain–gut connection to broader dialogues on emotional resilience and preventive care. For me, advocacy has extended into public speaking and community engagement. This includes a TEDx talk focused on the importance of mental health, podcasts documenting my journey into the mental health space alongside my co-founder, and regular talks that encourage openness and early intervention.

I have also served as a panelist at an international conference on Suicide Prevention Day, organised by My Safe Spaces, where the discussion centred on the role of gatekeepers, recognising early warning signs, building resilience, and ultimately saving lives. Today, The Mind Diaries and The Well-Being Trust stand as safe, compassionate spaces — rooted in lived experience and driven by the belief that meaningful change begins with honest conversation.