Mariwala Health Initiative

What Mariwala Health Initiative does

Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI) is a privately funded, non-profit philanthropic foundation established in 2015 and headquartered in Mumbai, India. The organization operates as a grant-making and advocacy agency that funds innovative mental health initiatives with a specific focus on accessibility for marginalized persons and communities — including LGBTQIA+ persons, Dalit and Adivasi communities, persons with disabilities, and other groups marginalized by caste, class, ability, age, region, gender, sexuality, or religion. MHI defines mental health at the intersection of biomedical and psychosocial factors and takes a rights-based, intersectional, user-focused approach that encompasses advocacy, capacity building, law and policy work, human rights, research, and the centering of lived experiences.

MHI's core product surface comprises several interconnected programs rather than a single technology platform: a grants program distributing funding to implementing NGOs; the Alliance for Suicide Prevention (ASP), a seeded multi-stakeholder coalition; the Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice (QACP) course and accompanying Resource Book that have trained 350+ mental health practitioners; the Counter-Narratives annual conference; the ReFrame journal on global mental health from marginalized perspectives; and the Voices editorial platform. Distribution occurs through a network of 80+ NGO partners, academic collaborations (K.C. College, HSNC University), and government partnerships — notably an MoU with the Government of Bihar to operate a Technical Support Unit for the state's mental health system. A 2020 partnership with Snapchat extended MHI's content to the platform's in-app 'Here For You' feature in India.

The business model is philanthropic, not commercial. MHI is funded by Harsh Mariwala (Chairman of Marico Limited) and operates independently of Marico. The organization has no disclosed revenue and no external institutional investors; its funding flows outward as grants to NGO partners rather than being generated through pricing on a product or service. Reported cumulative reach metrics include 4.6 lakh+ people reached in India, 1.8 lakh people accessing counseling help, and 2.3 lakh people participating in awareness campaigns. Leadership comprises Harsh Mariwala (Founder), Raj Mariwala (Director), and Dr. Shruti Chakravarty (Chief Advisor). The organization employs approximately 29 people.

Name

Mariwala Health Initiative

Legal name

Mariwala Health Initiative

Website

https://mhi.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mariwala Health Initiative is a Mumbai-based philanthropic foundation, founded in 2015, that funds and advocates for mental health initiatives serving marginalized communities in India through grants to 80+ NGO partners, the QACP practitioner training program, the Alliance for Suicide Prevention, and a Technical Support Unit for the Government of Bihar.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Philanthropy and Grant-Making

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC), Public Health Financing, Budgeting & Grants Management (HLAJAMAC)

Keywords

• Mental health philanthropy
• Grant-making foundation
• Community mental health
• Suicide prevention programs
• Capacity building training

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Funding: MHI operates as a philanthropic foundation funded by Harsh Mariwala (Chairman of Marico Limited). The organization provides grants to innovative mental health initiatives rather than generating commercial revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Mariwala Health Initiative is a grant-making foundation and advocacy agency that funds innovative mental health initiatives focused on marginalized persons and communities in India. It disburses grants to 80+ NGO partners, builds practitioner capacity through the Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice (QACP) course and Resource Book, supports suicide prevention via the Alliance for Suicide Prevention (ASP), convenes the annual Counter-Narratives conference, and publishes thought leadership through the ReFrame journal and Voices editorial platform.

Product overview

Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI) operates as a grant-making foundation and advocacy organization focused on mental health for marginalized communities in India. The organization offers a portfolio of interconnected programs: its core grant-making platform funds innovative mental health initiatives; the Alliance for Suicide Prevention (ASP) provides community-based suicide prevention and crisis support; the Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice (QACP) course and Resource Book train mental health practitioners in queer-affirmative practice; the Counter-Narratives Conference facilitates dialogue on mental health of marginalized communities; ReFrame Journal publishes perspectives from the margins; and the Voices platform publishes editorial content on mental health and rights. MHI also maintains a network of 80+ partner organizations spanning non-profits, researchers, collectives, activists, government, and policy makers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice (QACP) Course A 6-day intensive training course for mental health practitioners, counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and medical professionals to build capacity in anti-oppressive, queer-affirmative therapeutic practice for LGBTQI+ clients. Launched January 2019 with 22 participants and grown to train over 350 mental health practitioners.
• QACP Resource Book A textbook for mental health practitioners in India providing information, perspective, skill, and eclectic pedagogic tools drawn from lived experiences of queer-trans realities, with an anti-oppressive framework to queer mental health practice. Authored by Ketki Ranade, Shruti Chakravarty, Pooja Nair, and Gauri Shringarpure; released July 2022.
• Alliance for Suicide Prevention (ASP) A subsidiary initiative seeded by MHI that brings together organizations, activists, funders, researchers, and policymakers to work collaboratively on preventing suicide at individual and community levels, with a particular focus on marginalized groups. Supports community-based interventions, crisis support, and support spaces for those bereaved by suicide.
• Counter-Narratives — The MHI Conference MHI's annual conference series focused on mental health of marginalized communities, featuring panel and poster presentations on topics including heteronormativity, casteism, ableism, body-gender binaries, majoritarianism, and dominant mental health discourse. Launched February 2025.
• ReFrame Journal An annual journal published by Mariwala Health Initiative that challenges existing norms and narratives around mental health, featuring global mental health perspectives from the margins.
• Voices Publication Platform An editorial platform featuring articles, perspectives, and statements on mental health and rights-based issues including transgender rights, climate justice, disability inclusion, LGBTQ+ mental health, and structural competency in mental health.
• MHI Grants Program A grant-making program distributing funding to partner organizations for innovative mental health initiatives focused on marginalized persons and communities across India, including helplines, counselling, community-based interventions, and awareness campaigns.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.6 lakh+ people reached across India
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

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

• SnapchatflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 July 2020Snapchat partnered with MHI to launch the 'Here For You' feature in India, providing in-app mental health resources covering topics including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, loneliness, and suicide. This partnership made MHI's mental health expertise available to millions of Snapchatters in India.
• Government of BiharcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 February 2020MHI signed an MoU for a Technical Support Unit that will support the Government of Bihar in strengthening the State's Mental Health system with a focus on increasing its accessibility and quality of care.
• Alliance for Suicide Prevention (ASP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASP was seeded by MHI and brings together stakeholders including organisations, activists, funders, researchers, and policymakers to work collaboratively on preventing suicide at individual and community levels. ASP supports community-based interventions for suicide prevention with particular focus on marginalized groups.
• iCALL Psychosocial HelplinecoreStrategic or Co-development PartneriCALL is a project at TISS Mumbai providing confidential and free professional counseling via email and telephone with focus on marginalized sections including women facing violence, abused children, LGBT communities, and survivors of mental illness.
• Sneha Foundation TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChennai-based organization working on suicide prevention through service delivery, advocacy, research and public education. MHI partnered with SNEHA to conduct a research study on addressing intergenerational conflict to reduce suicidal ideation among young people.
• Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy, PunecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks to protect and promote rights of persons with psychosocial disabilities using a rights-based approach. Partners with MHI on the Atmiyata project for community-based mental health interventions.
• K.C. College, Mumbai & HSNC UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHI collaborated with the Department of Sociology and Psychology, K.C. College and School of Performing Arts and Liberal Studies, HSNC University for the 'Counter-Narratives' conference in February 2025.
• MannminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHI partnered with Mann to co-create a model on integrating mental health within programs for adults with intellectual disabilities, including a caregivers' support program.
• Burans (Emmanuel Hospital Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership project working in Uttarakhand to provide community mental health support. Burans has identified and supported over 1000 people with psycho-social disabilities and trained over 1000 ASHA workers in mental health.
• Basic Needs IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMHI funds BNI's work spanning five districts across Odisha and Maharashtra focusing on strengthening community-based integrative care of persons with mental illness and their families.
• The Square Circle ClinicminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCriminal justice initiative at NALSAR University of Law working on mental health aspects within the legal system, including representation for prisoners with psychosocial disabilities.
• Public Health Foundation of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPHFI engages with governments, donors, civil society, and academic institutions on public health issues including mental health. MHI partners with PHFI for broader mental health ecosystem development.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Vandrevala Foundation: Indian mental health foundation operating a 24/7 crisis helpline and funding mental health programs; comparable to MHI in mission, geography, and grant-making-plus-service approach.
• Sangath: Goa-based mental health research and intervention organization that develops and scales community mental health models in India; comparable to MHI in rights-based, community-led mental health programming.
• The MINDS Foundation: India-rooted mental health nonprofit that funds community-based mental health programs and practitioner training across underserved areas; closely comparable to MHI in target population and capacity-building model.
• Live Love Laugh Foundation: Founded by Deepika Padukone, this is an Indian mental health foundation focused on awareness, stigma reduction, and program funding — the closest functional analog to MHI in terms of celebrity/philanthropy-backed mental health grant-making in India.

Broad incumbents

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP): Largest U.S.-based suicide prevention funder and advocacy organization; directly comparable to MHI's Alliance for Suicide Prevention in mission, with a much larger resource base and longer operating history.
• Wellcome Trust: Major UK-based global health foundation with substantial mental health funding programs; comparable to MHI in its grant-making function but at vastly larger scale and broader geographic mandate.
• United for Global Mental Health: Global coalition and grant-making entity advocating for mental health policy and funding worldwide; comparable to MHI in advocacy and field-building, with a much larger international footprint.
• BasicNeeds International: Global mental health organization with active India operations (Basic Needs India, a MHI partner) focused on community-based integrative care; broader geographic footprint makes it a broad incumbent to MHI.

Emerging players

• Centre for Mental Health Law and Policy: Pune-based organization taking a rights-based approach to mental health; shares MHI's intersectional, rights-framed methodology (and is a current MHI partner), making it a strong thematic peer.
• Sneha Foundation: Chennai-based organization focused on suicide prevention via crisis intervention, helpline, and research; directly comparable to MHI's seeded Alliance for Suicide Prevention in scope and model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mariwalahealth
• Facebookfacebook.com/mariwalahealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mariwalahealth
• Instagraminstagram.com/mariwalahealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mariwala Health Initiative