Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, ILS, Pune

What Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, ILS, Pune does

The Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy (CMHLP) is a not-for-profit research and training organization founded in 2007 as part of the Indian Law Society (ILS, established 1923) in Pune, India. It operates at the intersection of mental health, law, human rights, and policy reform, advancing rights-based mental healthcare aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). CMHLP serves policymakers, mental health professionals, journalists, government agencies, civil society organizations, and vulnerable populations across approximately 32-37 countries, with operational and educational reach spanning six continents.

CMHLP's portfolio combines credentialed education, digital policy and data platforms, and community-based research programmes. The flagship is a one-year Postgraduate Diploma in International Mental Health, Law, Policy & Rights-based Services, which has produced 162 graduates from 64 countries across 16 batches. Digital assets include MiNDbank (an international mental health policy database), the Keshav Desiraju India Mental Health Observatory (IMHO) launched in 2020 with Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies support, the SITI Dashboard (India suicide statistics spanning 1967-2024), the MHCA 2017 Implementation Tracker, the MHCA 2017 mobile application, and Project SIREN (which has monitored over 2,800 media articles on suicide reporting). Community research programmes include SPIRIT (suicide prevention), THRIVE (cash-plus intervention for depression), STRIDE (law enforcement collaboration), ISOBAR (school-based intervention), Atmiyata (community-led mental health), and Outlive (youth suicide prevention, Comic Relief-funded). Specialized training comprises the WHO-endorsed Gatekeeper Training Course for Suicide Prevention (INR 5,000 plus 18% GST) and the free Reporting Suicides Responsibly journalism course.

The business model is hybrid: tuition revenue from the Diploma (INR 125,000 for Indian students; tiered USD 1,500-5,000 for international students) and select training courses, supplemented by grant funding from a diversified institutional donor base including Wellcome Trust, Comic Relief, NIMH, Grand Challenges Canada, European Union Horizon 2020, Azim Premji Foundation, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, Indian Council of Medical Research, and Swiss National Science Foundation. Operational delivery is anchored by partnerships with WHO, WHO-SEARO, India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, the state governments of Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha (including the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate), and civil society partners such as Sangath, SNEHA, and Hasiru Dala. CMHLP's Director, Dr. Soumitra Pathare, led technical assistance in drafting India's Mental Healthcare Act 2017 and serves as a WHO consultant, placing the organization in a near-exclusive position within India's mental health regulatory architecture.

Name

Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, ILS, Pune

Legal name

Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy (CMHLP), Indian Law Society (ILS), Pune

Website

https://cmhlp.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CMHLP is a Pune-based not-for-profit research and training organization that advances rights-based mental health law, policy, and suicide prevention globally through credentialed education, digital policy platforms, and community-based research programmes serving policymakers, professionals, and vulnerable populations across roughly 32-37 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Policy Research & Training

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090), Services-Management Services (8741)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) & Public Behavioral Health Providers (HLAFACAI)

Keywords

• Mental health policy
• Suicide prevention
• Mental health law
• Community mental health
• Public health training

Headquarters

HQ city

Pune

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Educational Programs - International Diploma: One-year Postgraduate Diploma in International Mental Health, Law, Policy & Rights-based Services. Indian students pay INR 125,000 + 18% GST; LMIC students USD 1,500; MIC students USD 3,000; HIC students USD 5,000. The program includes online sessions, residential session in Pune, self-study via Moodle platform, and project supervision.
2. Training Courses - Gatekeeper Training: 20-hour online course for suicide prevention. Fee is INR 5,000 + 18% GST (INR 5,900 total). Limited batch size of 15 participants shortlisted via application. Fee waivers available for those who request.
3. Training Courses - Suicide Reporting for Journalists: Free self-paced online course for journalists and journalism students. Certificate of completion provided upon successful completion within 6 weeks of enrollment.
4. Project Funding: Funding from institutional donors including Grand Challenges Canada, Wellcome Trust, Comic Relief, Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies, Swiss National Science Foundation, European Union Horizon 2020, Azim Premji Foundation, and others for specific research and implementation projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

CMHLP is a not-for-profit research, training, and policy organization that operates at the intersection of mental health, human rights, and law. It delivers educational programs (Postgraduate Diploma, Gatekeeper Training, Suicide Reporting Course), maintains open-access digital platforms (MiNDbank, MHCA 2017 Tracker, SITI Dashboard, Project SIREN), and runs implementation projects on suicide prevention and community-based mental healthcare across low- and middle-income countries.

Product overview

Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy (CMHLP) operates as a research and training organization focused on mental health, suicide prevention, law and policy reform. The organization offers a portfolio of educational programmes (Postgraduate Diploma, Gatekeeper Training Course, Suicide Reporting Course, Atmiyata Course) alongside digital platforms (MiNDbank, MHCA 2017 App, SITI Dashboard, Project SIREN) and implementation projects (SPIRIT, THRIVE, ISOBAR, STRIDE, Atmiyata, Outlive). The Postgraduate Diploma in International Mental Health, Law, Policy & Rights-based Services is the flagship one-year academic programme. Digital tools include the India Mental Health Observatory (IMHO) hosting MiNDbank, SITI Dashboard, and MHCA 2017 Implementation Tracker. Project SIREN provides media monitoring services. Work spans law and policy reform, suicide prevention, community-based mental health, health systems strengthening, peer support, youth mental health, and training and education. The organization has international reach across 32+ countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Keshav Desiraju India Mental Health Observatory (IMHO): Open-access repository of data and information on mental health laws, policies and services to promote evidence-based policy making
• Project SIREN
• MiNDbank
• Outlive
• Atmiyata
• SPIRIT
• MHCA 2017 App

Products and services

• Postgraduate Diploma in International Mental Health, Law, Policy & Rights-based Services One-year internationally recognised postgraduate diploma on mental health, human rights and law grounded in UNCRPD principles, equipping learners to influence rights-based policy and practice worldwide. Includes online sessions, residential component in Pune, and self-study via Moodle.
• Gatekeeper Training Course for Suicide Prevention 20-hour online course based on WHO's mhGAP Intervention Guide, adapted specifically for community gatekeepers to identify, assess, support, refer, and follow up with persons thinking of suicide.
• Reporting Suicides Responsibly Course Free self-paced online course equipping journalists and journalism students with knowledge to apply WHO evidence-based guidelines for suicide reporting and develop nuanced understanding of suicide.
• Atmiyata Course Evidence-based mental health support course using counselling techniques to provide skills to identify, reach out and support persons in distress, based on the Atmiyata community-led intervention.
• MiNDbank Global open-access platform for national and international policies, strategies, laws, service standards, evaluations, and other resources related to mental health, substance use, and suicide prevention.
• SITI (Suicide Insights and Trends in India) Dashboard Dashboard consolidating official suicide data published by National Crime Records Bureau, with national data from 1967-2024.
• MHCA 2017 Implementation Tracker Online tool to monitor implementation of Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, making updates around the Act easily accessible.
• Project SIREN: Suicide Reporting India Watch Quarterly media monitoring project that rates media reports on suicide using a scorecard of positive and negative parameters derived from WHO guidelines to encourage responsible reporting.
• Public Archive Open-access crowdsourced platform containing information and data on mental health related laws, policies and programmes in India.
• Outlive Youth suicide prevention programme addressing urban youth suicides in India by engaging young people aged 18-24, particularly those with experiences related to suicide/self-harm, distress or mental health problems.
• MHCA 2017 App Mobile application to understand mental health rights, access practical resources and navigate the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017.
• SPIRIT: Suicide Prevention & Implementation Research Initiative Integrated and evidence-based suicide prevention intervention being implemented and evaluated at scale in rural communities.
• THRIVE: Transformative Health and Recovery Initiative through Economic Aid Research project assessing impact of cash-plus intervention on clinical functioning and economic outcomes among adults experiencing severe depression in rural India.
• ISOBAR: Implementing Early Physical and Mental Health Detection and Support Whole-school approach to health and well-being promoting early physical and mental health detection and support in school settings.
• STRIDE Action research project strengthening suicide prevention efforts in Odisha by collaborating with law enforcement agencies.
• Atmiyata Project Community-led evidence-based intervention to improve access to mental health and social care in communities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 162 graduates from 64 countries trained through International Diploma program
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Hasiru DalacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization working on sustainable solutions for persons recovering from mental illness. Partner for Atmiyata model replication and community mental health initiatives.
• WHO (World Health Organization)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical collaboration on mental health guidelines, policy development, and capacity building. WHO recommends CMHLP-developed Gatekeeper Training as evidence-based approach.
• ACF (Ambuja Cement Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Atmiyata model replication and community mental health intervention scale-up in Gujarat.
• SCARF (Schizophrenia Research Foundation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration on mental health, particularly related to schizophrenia and community-based care models.
• Sage BionetworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch and data analysis collaboration in mental health.
• QuicksandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign studio collaborating on project design and communication materials for mental health initiatives.
• Police Commissionerate, Bhubaneswar-CuttackcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on STRIDE project to strengthen suicide prevention efforts in Odisha by working with law enforcement agencies.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of IndiaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical assistance in drafting India's Mental Healthcare Act 2017 and involvement in National Mental Health Policy development.
• SangathcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health research NGO, partner on SPIRIT project, suicide prevention initiatives, and addiction research (Sangath ARG).
• Fields of ViewminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBehavioral research organization collaborating on mental health policy and implementation research.
• WHO-SEARO (World Health Organization South East Asian Regional Office)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on mental health summits and regional policy initiatives, including the Kathmandu charter for rights of people with lived experience.
• Thumbi LabscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for creative tools in mental health policy - testing storytelling and simulation tools for community mental health policy in Chhattisgarh, funded by Wellcome Trust.
• SNEHAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban health organization, partner on SPIRIT project and suicide prevention implementation research.
• Trimbos InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDutch knowledge institute for mental health, collaborating on evidence-based mental health practices.
• UNI LU (University of Lucerne)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership for research collaboration in mental health law and policy.
• AnjaliminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organization working on rights-based approaches to mental healthcare.
• Department of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of GujaratcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for community mental health initiatives and program implementation.
• Department of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of ChhattisgarhcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for District Mental Health Programme (DMHP) review and adolescent health clinic assessments.
• BCCP BangladeshminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBangladesh Centre for Communication and Development, partner for SPIRIT project implementation.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BasicNeeds: Global mental health NGO operating community mental health and livelihoods programs in LMICs. Directly comparable to CMHLP's Atmiyata and rights-based community interventions and LMIC delivery model.
• Sangath: India-based mental health research NGO and explicit CMHLP partner on SPIRIT and addiction research. Operates evidence-based community mental health interventions across India and comparable in mission, scale, and LMIC focus.
• CBM Global: International disability-inclusive development organization with significant focus on psychosocial disabilities and community mental health. Overlaps CMHLP's rights-based and community-led approaches in LMICs.
• The Banyan: India-based mental health and homelessness NGO providing community-based psychosocial care and recovery models in low-resource settings. Comparable as a domestic non-profit addressing mental health gaps among vulnerable populations.
• Live Love Laugh Foundation: Indian mental health foundation focused on stigma reduction, awareness, and access. Comparable as a domestic non-profit working on mental health literacy and public engagement at national scale.

Broad incumbents

• Movement for Global Mental Health: International advocacy coalition campaigning for scaled-up, rights-based mental health services in LMICs. Overlaps CMHLP in policy advocacy and rights-based framing, but as a coalition rather than operating entity.
• Mental Health Innovation Network (MHIN): Grand Challenges Canada-hosted global knowledge platform for mental health innovations in resource-poor settings. Overlaps CMHLP's MiNDbank/IMHO as a knowledge broker for mental health programs.
• WHO QualityRights: WHO's global initiative on human rights and recovery in mental health. Comparable to CMHLP's UNCRPD-grounded training and policy work, but with WHO's institutional weight behind it.
• NIMHANS: India's national mental health and neurosciences institute — a far larger public-sector academic institution offering clinical services, training, and policy inputs across the full mental health spectrum.

Emerging players

• Mariwala Health Initiative: Indian mental health philanthropy/think tank funding community mental health and right-to-mental-health-care programs. Overlaps as an Indian funder and policy convener in the same mental health ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cmhlpindia
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@CMHLPIndia
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cmhlpindia
• Instagraminstagram.com/cmhlpindia/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Centre for Mental Health Law & Policy, ILS, Pune