ON PURPOSE has been appointed as the public relations and strategic communications partner for the India Mental Health Alliance (IMHA), a not-for-profit organisation working to address gaps in India’s mental health ecosystem.
Under the mandate, ON PURPOSE will lead IMHA’s media relations and communications strategy, with a focus on enhancing the organisation’s public profile, supporting its events and convenings, and contributing to wider policy and social discussions around mental health in India.
Strengthening public engagement on mental health
Founded by Vasvi and Ashish Bharat Ram in collaboration with Children First and AMAHA, IMHA works closely with mental health institutions, professionals, community leaders and individuals with lived experience to improve access to care and build long-term systemic capacity in the sector.
Announcing the partnership, Girish Balachandran, founder and managing director of ON PURPOSE, said the collaboration aligns with the firm’s belief in communications as a catalyst for social change.
“We’re proud to partner with IMHA at this formative stage in their journey to create a more equitable and capable mental health ecosystem in India. At ON PURPOSE, we believe that changing the conversation is the first step to driving systemic change, and IMHA’s commitment to collaboration and capacity-building makes this a deeply meaningful association for us,” Balachandran said.
Focus on inclusivity and collective action
Karan Malik, executive director, Kai India Mental Health Forum IMHA, said the partnership would help amplify IMHA’s work and broaden participation in mental health initiatives across the country.
“At IMHA, we think that mental health care has to be inclusive, reflective, and sensitive to the various realities of India. By collaborating with ON PURPOSE, we will be able to broaden this discussion, make sure that our collaborations and programs reach more people, and encourage collective action for improved mental health,” Malik said.
A growing national alliance
Established in 2023, IMHA has built a network of more than 250 members, including mental health organisations, academic institutions, funders, cross-sector groups and collectives representing people with lived experience. Its work is centred on capacity building, collaborative learning and fostering partnerships across sectors.
With mental health receiving growing attention in public policy and social discourse, the alliance aims to promote informed dialogue and expand access to quality mental healthcare across diverse communities in India.
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