South Asian Mental Health Initiative And Network

What South Asian Mental Health Initiative And Network does

South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network (SAMHIN) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on April 5, 2014 in Edison, New Jersey by psychiatrist Dr. Vasudev Makhija, who continues to serve as President alongside Vice-President Dr. Prakash Amin. The organization addresses the mental health needs of the South Asian diaspora in the United States — defined as individuals with ancestry from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives, a population of over 5 million — with a focus on reducing the cultural stigma and shame associated with mental illness. Its core service portfolio comprises free virtual and in-person mental health support groups (Desi Divorced Women's Support Group, Janani Suicide Loss Survivor Support Group, Young Adult Mental Wellness Support Group, Sahara Grief Support Group, and the Global Gratitude Group for South Asian Alcoholics Anonymous), a phone and email HelpLine (888-581-3230), an online searchable Provider Directory of culturally competent clinicians, free community-based mental health screenings, and educational workshops delivered in partnership with public libraries and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

SAMHIN operates with no proprietary technology platform; service delivery relies on Zoom for virtual groups, a WordPress-hosted provider directory, and Constant Contact for email newsletters. Mental health screenings are conducted in person at health fairs, temples, mosques, libraries, and cultural festivals — including documented outputs such as 85 screenings at a Swaminarayan Temple event with 35% referral and 105 screenings at the October 2023 HCNJ/Swaminarayan health fair. The organization maintains a strategic partnership network spanning IHCNJ, Manavi (for domestic violence survivors), Darul Islah Masjid, East Brunswick Public Library, New Brunswick Public Library, and cultural nonprofits (Raag-Rang, NJ Thamizhar, IFMP), and earned the 2023 American Psychiatric Association Foundation Award for Advancing Minority Mental Health.

The business model is donations- and sponsorships-based; all programs and services are provided free of charge to participants, with Platinum-tier sponsors receiving logo placement and website links. SAMHIN supplements donor revenue with grants such as those from the Partnership for a Healthier Jersey City. Geographic operations are anchored in New Jersey with an explicit national expansion mandate across the broader United States.

Name

South Asian Mental Health Initiative And Network

Legal name

South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network

Website

https://samhin.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2014

Operating status

Operating

Short description

SAMHIN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2014 in Edison, NJ that provides free mental health support groups, screenings, a helpline, and a provider directory to the 5M+ South Asian community in the United States, reducing stigma through faith-based and cultural venue outreach.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Mental Health Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (624110)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPAGACAD

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Health & Medical Nonprofits

SECONDARYBPAGAEAH

Mental Health & Crisis Support Services

Business & Public Services/Nonprofit, NGO & Social Services/Social Services & Community Support (Food, Housing, Family)

Keywords

• Community mental health
• Peer support groups
• Mental health screenings
• Culturally competent care
• Suicide prevention services

Headquarters

HQ city

Edison

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Sponsorships: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, SAMHIN operates primarily through charitable contributions from donors and corporate sponsors. Platinum-level sponsors receive logo placement and website links. The organization does not charge for any of its programs or services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAMHIN is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free mental health programs to South Asian individuals in the United States. Core offerings include virtual peer support groups (for divorced women, suicide loss survivors, young adults, and grief), a telephone/email HelpLine, an online Provider Network directory of culturally competent South Asian mental health professionals, free community-based mental health screenings, educational workshops, and culturally adapted Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. All services are provided at no charge to participants and funded through donations and sponsorships.

Product overview

SAMHIN is a nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive suite of mental health services to the South Asian community in the United States. The organization operates primarily through virtual support groups (Divorced Women Support Group, Janani Suicide Survivor Support Group, Young Adult Mental Wellness Support Group, and Sahara Grief Support Group), a HelpLine for inquiries about mental health and addiction, and an online Provider Network connecting individuals with culturally competent mental health professionals. Additional services include free mental health screenings at community events, educational workshops on topics like depression and suicide prevention, and culturally adapted Alcoholics Anonymous meetings (Global Gratitude Group). The organization focuses on reducing stigma and improving mental health literacy through community outreach at temples, mosques, health fairs, and libraries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Janani: Suicide loss survivor support group - a peer support group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide, meeting virtually on second and fourth Mondays
• Desi Divorced Women's Support Group
• Sahara Grief Support Group
• Young Adult Mental Wellness Support Group
• Global Gratitude Group

Products and services

• Mental Health Support Groups Free virtual and in-person peer support groups for South Asian community members, including specialized groups for divorced women, suicide loss survivors, young adults, and grief.
• HelpLine Free phone and email helpline (888-581-3230; [email protected]) responding to questions about mental health, addiction, resources, and how to help family members struggling with mental illness or addiction.
• Provider Network Directory Online searchable directory of mental health professionals with South Asian cultural competency, filterable by location, specialty, and languages spoken, allowing community members to find culturally competent clinicians.
• Alcoholics Anonymous Meetings (Global Gratitude Group) Culturally adapted virtual and in-person AA meetings for South Asian individuals in recovery from alcohol use, held on Mondays and Thursdays at 8:00 PM ET; first South Asian AA meetings in the U.S., launched in 2015.
• Community Mental Health Screenings Free confidential mental health screenings conducted at community events, temples, mosques, libraries, and health fairs to provide early detection, intervention, and referrals.
• Educational Workshops Interactive workshops on mental health topics including depression, suicide prevention, substance use, OCD, and stigma reduction, often delivered in partnership with libraries and medical schools such as Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
• Desi Divorced Women's Support Group Virtual peer support group for South Asian women who are separated, divorced, or contemplating divorce, addressing stigma and shame associated with divorce; meets on first and third Tuesdays.
• Janani Suicide Loss Survivor Support Group Peer support group for individuals who have lost a loved one to suicide, offering a safe virtual space for grief processing; meets on second and fourth Mondays.
• Young Adult Mental Wellness Support Group Mental wellness support group for South Asian young adults, formerly known as the Mental Wellness Support Group; meets on second and fourth Tuesdays virtually.
• Sahara Grief Support Group Grief support group meeting virtually on first and third Mondays, providing peer support for South Asian community members experiencing grief and loss.

Quantifiable outcome

• SAMHIN screened 85 individuals at the Swaminarayan Temple health fair, with 35% receiving additional evaluation, guidance, support, and referrals.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 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 core and minor.

• Darul Islah MasjidcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 April 2025First-time collaboration with Darul Islah Masjid in Teaneck, NJ for mental health awareness and free screenings. The mosque serves a vibrant community of Muslim immigrants from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
• ManavicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health provider from SAMHIN conducts monthly support group at Manavi's Ashiana for South Asian women who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking. These sessions provide emotional support and a safe space for survivors to share experiences.
• Indian Health Camp of New Jersey (IHCNJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing collaboration for health fairs at temples and community centers. IHCNJ organizes medical services while SAMHIN provides mental health screenings and education. Partnership dates back to at least 2016.
• East Brunswick Public LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnership for community workshops on mental health topics. Collaborated on workshops including OCD, depression, suicide prevention, and other mental health awareness programs.
• Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Rutgers RWJ Medical School students for community workshops on mental health topics including depression, OCD, and complementary strategies for mental well-being.
• Runners High With Bala (RHWB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for promoting mental health awareness at community running events. SAMHIN participates in races and fitness events to reach community members with mental health messaging.
• Raag-RangminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Jersey-based nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Indian classical music. SAMHIN sponsored events to raise mental health awareness within the South Asian community through cultural platforms.
• Health Camp of New Jersey (HCNJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for health fairs and mental health screenings at various South Asian community venues including temples and cultural centers.
• South Asian Total Health Initiative (SATHI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch initiative collaboration. Dr. Makhija represented SAMHIN at SATHI meeting to exchange ideas and explore potential collaborations on mental health research.
• New Brunswick Public LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for mental health awareness at cultural events including Holi celebrations. First collaboration in April 2026.
• New Jersey ThamizharminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsorship and participation in Sangamam 2026, annual Tamil New Year celebration, for mental health outreach.
• India Foundation of Metropolitan Princeton (IFMP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual cultural show sponsorship and participation. SAMHIN served as Gold Sponsor at annual cultural show attracting over 1,000 attendees.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Largest U.S. grassroots mental health organization providing support groups, helplines, education, and advocacy — overlapping service mix (support groups, helpline, public education) but without SAMHIN's cultural-tailoring to a specific diaspora.
• Mental Health America (MHA): National community-based nonprofit addressing mental health via screenings, public education, and policy advocacy — comparable service pillars to SAMHIN but at a national generalist scale.

Emerging players

• The JED Foundation: Nonprofit focused on youth and young adult mental health prevention, peer support programming, and school/community partnerships — comparable in its young-adult mental wellness focus segment and partnership-driven service model.
• South Asian Therapists: Online directory of South Asian mental health practitioners, structurally analogous to SAMHIN's provider directory but as a digital-native, transactional matchmaking resource rather than a community nonprofit.

Regional players

• India Association of Greater Boston: Regional nonprofit serving the South Asian community in the Greater Boston area with cultural and community programming — analogous diaspora community infrastructure footprint to SAMHIN's NJ base, in a different metro.

Direct peers

• Asian Mental Health Collective: Nonprofit organization dedicated to mental health awareness and resources for the broader Asian American community, providing education, provider directories, and community programming — directly comparable culturally-tailored nonprofit model to SAMHIN's South Asian focus.
• Manavi: New Jersey-based nonprofit serving South Asian women facing domestic violence, sexual assault, and dating violence. Operates the same community-specific social service model in overlapping South Asian community infrastructure, and is already a SAMHIN programmatic partner.

Others

• South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT): National advocacy organization for the South Asian diaspora — operates in the same community ecosystem as SAMHIN but is policy/advocacy-driven rather than direct-service-driven.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SAMHINorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJhWCc_txVgQxXwfXseZGZw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SAMHINorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/south-asian-mental-health-initiative-and-network
• Instagraminstagram.com/samhinorg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about South Asian Mental Health Initiative And Network