Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health

What Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health does

BALM (Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health) is a Chennai-based non-profit educational trust that operates as the academic and research arm of The Banyan, a mental health services organization. BALM delivers practice-led mental health training through a portfolio of credentials: a Master of Social Work in Mental Health (co-credentialed with Madras School of Social Work), three diplomas (Integrated Mental Health Care, Mental Well-Being of Vulnerable Children with Rainbow Homes Hyderabad, and Transdisciplinary Research & Practice with VU Amsterdam's Athena Institute), a Certificate in Open Dialogue, and short courses in Public Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Care. Its educational methodology is field-anchored, drawing on The Banyan's operational programmes — NALAM (11,517+ outpatients served), ECRC (571 crisis care beds across 39 Tamil Nadu districts), and Home Again (1,295 individuals transitioned from institutional care, WHO-recognized best practice 2021 and 2025) — for student placements and curriculum grounding.

BALM's revenue model is diversified across educational programme fees (some free, others ₹2,000–₹25,000 with need-based scholarships), donations eligible for 80G tax exemption, fellowship funding (Sundram Fasteners Fellowship at ₹1.2–4.8 lakh per fellow), internship fees (₹3,000/month), and research grants — most notably a 24-month Wellcome Trust grant of ₹17,780,555.70. The organization distributes programmes through direct enrollment via balm.in, academic referrals through MSSW and VU Amsterdam, hybrid online/in-person delivery, and government PPP channels in Tamil Nadu. Key institutional partners include Sundram Fasteners Limited (primary fellowship funder), Grand Challenges Canada (Home Again evaluation), Azim Premji Foundation, Wellcome Trust, the Tamil Nadu Departments of Health and Welfare, and the Meghalaya government. Operations are concentrated in India, with the Home Again model replicated across 9 Indian states and 1 Sri Lankan site.

With 18 employees, BALM is a small, grant-funded non-profit whose strategic significance exceeds its headcount, evidenced by WHO recognition, state-level policy influence (Meghalaya Mental Health and Social Care Policy 2022), and a fellowship alumni network of 20+ emerging mental health leaders. It addresses India's documented shortage of mental health professionals (under 0.3 psychiatrists per 100,000 population) through credentialed pathways explicitly oriented toward serving marginalized communities underserved by mainstream services.

Name

Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health

Legal name

BALM Trust

Website

https://balm.in

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BALM is the academic and research arm of The Banyan, offering credentialed mental health education (Master's, diplomas, certificates, short courses) and field placements in community mental health programmes across India, targeting students, NGO workers, and marginalized communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Education and Training

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAKAMAL

Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health)

Education/Special Education & Learning Support Services/Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Mental Health Supports (School-Based)

SECONDARYEDALAFAO

Recreation Therapy, Stress Management & Mindfulness Programs

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Student Health, Counseling & Wellness Services

Keywords

• Mental health education
• Community mental health
• Social work training
• Mental health workforce
• Mental health diplomas

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Educational Programme Fees: Revenue from course fees for various educational programmes including diplomas, certificates, and short courses. Some programmes are offered free while others charge fees ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹25,000.
2. Donations and Philanthropic Contributions: Donations from individuals and organizations, eligible for 80G tax exemption. Donations support scholarships, fellowships, mental health services, and initiatives for vulnerable children and families.
3. Fellowship Programme Funding: The Sundram Fasteners Fellowship provides financial support ranging from ₹1.2 to ₹4.8 lakh annually per fellow. The programme also offers community immersion fellowships at ₹60,000/month and innovation grants of ₹3-10 lakhs.
4. Research Grants: Funding from organizations like Wellcome Trust (₹17,780,555.70 for 24-month grant), Grand Challenges Canada, and Azim Premji Foundation to support research initiatives and programme evaluation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

BALM is an educational institution that delivers practice-led mental health training through postgraduate degrees, diploma programmes, certificate courses, and short courses, with its flagship offerings being a Master of Social Work in Mental Health (with MSSW), three diploma programmes (Integrated Mental Health Care, Mental Well-Being of Vulnerable Children, Transdisciplinary Research & Practice), a Certificate in Open Dialogue, and short courses in Public Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Care. It supplements teaching with community-based research, the Sundram Fasteners Fellowship, and field placements via its parent The Banyan's NALAM, Home Again, and ECRC programmes.

Product overview

BALM (Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health) is an educational institution that offers a portfolio of mental health training programs ranging from postgraduate degrees to short courses. The core offerings include a Master's Degree in Social Work in Mental Health (in collaboration with MSSW), three diploma programs (Integrated Mental Health Care, Mental Well-Being of Vulnerable Children, and Transdisciplinary Research & Practice), a Certificate in Open Dialogue, and two short courses (Public Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Care). These programs serve students, mental health professionals, NGO workers, and community volunteers seeking to build careers in mental health and make a difference in vulnerable communities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NALAM: Community Mental Health Programme addressing mental health needs in urban, rural, and tribal areas across India
• SFL Fellowship
• Home Again
• ECRC

Products and services

• Master of Social Work in Mental Health A postgraduate degree programme offered in collaboration with Madras School of Social Work (MSSW), training students in social work approaches specifically focused on mental health care and community support.
• Diploma in Integrated Mental Health Care (DIMHC) A 6-month in-person diploma with community specialisation, training lay workers to provide mental health care in residential and community-based settings using a rights-based, recovery-oriented approach. Offered completely free of charge.
• Diploma in Mental Well-Being of Vulnerable Children (DMVC) A diploma developed collaboratively with Rainbow Homes, Hyderabad, preparing teachers, NGO staff, caregivers, and child welfare professionals to support the mental well-being of vulnerable children.
• Diploma in Transdisciplinary Research & Practice (TDRP) An 8-12 month hybrid diploma in collaboration with Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, and Madras School of Social Work, focusing on transdisciplinary approaches to address complex societal problems through stakeholder engagement and co-creation. Priced at ₹25,000 with need-based scholarships.
• Certificate in Open Dialogue A certificate course teaching the Open Dialogue approach — a conversational, network-based mental health method — for working with individuals experiencing mental illness and crisis situations.
• Trauma-Informed Mental Health Care Short Course A 5-week online short course jointly developed by BALM and The Banyan, providing foundational understanding and practical tools for Trauma-Informed Practice in mental healthcare for students, public health professionals, NGO workers, and community volunteers.
• Public Mental Health Short Course A short course providing a comprehensive introduction to mental health from a public health perspective, exploring prevention, intervention, policy, and community action for better mental health outcomes. Priced at ₹2,000.
• Sundram Fasteners Fellowship for Mental Health and Social Care A fellowship programme supporting emerging leaders in mental health across community-based care, policy reform, and research domains. Funded by Sundram Fasteners Limited, providing ₹1.2 to ₹4.8 lakh annually per fellow plus innovation grants of ₹3-10 lakh; also offers community immersion fellowships at ₹60,000/month. Launched in 2019.
• Internship Programme An internship programme at BALM priced at ₹3,000/month with need-based scholarships available on request, with a minimum duration of 3-4 weeks.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of ECRC clients transition to stable living, family reunification or community-based homes
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit (VU) AmsterdamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint programme delivery for the Diploma in Transdisciplinary Research & Practice (TDRP). Certification jointly awarded by Athena Institute, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and Madras School of Social Work, Chennai. Combines VU Amsterdam's transdisciplinary research expertise with BALM's community mental health experience.
• Madras School of Social Work (MSSW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner for Master of Social Work in Mental Health programme and co-awarding body for TDRP diploma. MSSW collaboration enables degree certification and academic credibility for BALM's postgraduate programmes.
• The BanyancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBALM is the academic and research arm of The Banyan, drawing from The Banyan's 30+ years of experience in community mental health. The Banyan provides programme models (NALAM, Home Again, ECRC) and field placement opportunities for BALM students.
• Rainbow Homes, HyderabadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner for the Diploma in Mental Well-Being of Vulnerable Children (DMVC). Rainbow Homes brings expertise in supporting vulnerable children in challenging environments, complementing BALM's mental health focus.
• Tamil Nadu Government (Department of Health & Family Welfare, NHM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutionalized the Emergency Care and Recovery Centre (ECRC) model across 39 districts through PPP arrangements. 17 ECRCs function through public-private partnerships with 4 directly managed by The Banyan, accounting for 571 crisis care beds.
• Tamil Nadu Government (Department for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdopted the Home Again model as a state scheme offering long-term community-based care. Supports 136 Home Again homes with 1,295 individuals transitioned from institutional care.
• Meghalaya GovernmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the state government in drafting progressive mental health policies tailored to local cultural and geographic realities, including the Meghalaya Mental Health and Social Care Policy 2022.
• v-shesh and ISLRTCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to expand mental health accessibility through Indian Sign Language (ISL). 259 new ISL signs launched to improve accessibility for deaf and hard of hearing communities.
• TANKER FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerShanthi Rajmohan, Founder of DIYA (Dialysis Patients association), is a BALM fellow working on mental health care for CKD patients and caregivers, supported by TANKER Foundation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BasicNeeds: UK/global nonprofit implementing community mental health and livelihood programs in LMICs with a similar training-plus-service delivery model and a focus on marginalised populations.
• StrongMinds: Africa-focused nonprofit training community mental health workers and delivering group interpersonal therapy, with comparable scale targets and grant-funded operating model in LMICs.
• Sangath: India-based mental health research and training nonprofit that runs community-led interventions and trains lay/primary-care workers (including the Atmiyata program), with a comparable academic output model anchored on community mental health.
• Manas Foundation: India-based nonprofit focused on mental health education, capacity building, and direct services with a similar ecosystem of training programmes and government engagement.
• Atmiyata (PRIDE India): Community-based mental health training and intervention that equips village health workers in India to identify and support distressed individuals, mirroring BALM's district-level field-extension approach.
• The MINDS Foundation: US/Mexico-headquartered nonprofit that trains community health workers in mental health and runs longitudinal evaluation of community-based programs — a direct peer in funding model and training methodology.

Broad incumbents

• Fountain House: Established US-headquartered mental health organisation that pioneered the Clubhouse model for psychosocial rehabilitation; comparable as a model-replication incumbent that informs community-based mental health worldwide.
• The Carter Center Mental Health Program: Large US-based global health NGO with an explicit mental health training and policy-reform program; a broader incumbent in the same global capacity-building space.

Emerging players

• Mariwala Foundation: India philanthropic foundation focused on mental health funding, capacity-building and field practice; overlapping as an adjacent funder/capacity-builder with partial overlap to BALM's training and research focus.

Others

• Centre for Global Mental Health (LSHTM / King's College London): Academic centre offering postgraduate training and research in global mental health; comparable as an educational and research counterpart with overlapping curriculum scope but a university rather than nonprofit delivery model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_FAoxettGP-TTNOfdtgbaw
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/balm-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/balm_academy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health