One of our core missions is to address mental health topics affecting women in our communities, through our informative and relatable interviews and webinars.
Mental Health Women Leaders to Know
WELL-BEHAVED INDIAN WOMEN - “I grew up craving fiction featuring strong South Asian women and at the end of college, decided to try writing my own. “ Today’s woman dreamer, Saumya Dave is a leading psychiatrist, author, and a frequent voice on NBC News. Aiming to address mental health throughout her platforms, Saumya brings her expertise to the crucial topic - what is the role of family and culture on mental health? Enjoy her story!
“Being able to take care of their own physical and mental health needs is important for Asian women, who are often the caretakers for others. Gaining the skills and knowledge to make healthy decisions is not only important for personal health, but strengthens the community as well.” Inspired by her own personal journey with breast cancer, today’s woman dreamer is a leader to know in the healthcare world. Chien-Chi Huang is the founder of Asian Women for Health, paving the way for the healthcare industry to better address the needs of Asian-Americans. We are excited to share her story for this week’s Women’s Health Wednesday!
“Does the work bring me joy, and do I wake up thrilled to begin each day?” Today’s woman dreamer, Gina Vild has led a dynamic and fulfilling life, as a leader in healthcare and government. She co-authored the best-selling book, “The Two Most Important Days” with Dr. Sanjiv Chopra and most recently was the Chief Communications Officer/Associate Dean at Harvard Medical School. A Happiness Expert, Gina shares how she finds happiness, purpose, and balance in life, and her journey in writing her upcoming book, Resilience, a topic we can all relate to in these challenging times. With a mantra of “do what you love”, Gina shares her philosophies and inspiring life story with Women Who Win!
“Mental health was overlooked for many years, because it was purely misunderstood.'“ Mental Health is becoming a more present part of the conversation, and the stigma around it is slowly disappearing. After working through her own challenging mental health journey, today’s woman dreamer, Dr. Meagan Copelin, wants to help others struggling. She writes “"I will work to fight mental health stigma until no one has to go through negative experiences like mine." In this interview, Meagan brings an insightful perspective to all things mental health: the role of social media and how we can change our mindset, the stigma around mental health, the crucial signs for parents that their children may be struggling, and essential strategies for families and individuals to become “mentally rich'“. Be “Mentally Rich” with us, and check out Meagan’s empowering story.
Own Your Mental Health - Essential Tips & Strategies
“Yoga literally strengthens the mind and body, and a key benefit is profound self-acceptance, which some women especially need.” Today’s woman dreamer, Geeta Vallecha, shares her journey in switching from the corporate world to the practice of yoga. She shares her advice to beginners on how to embrace the practice in their daily lives and some of her favorite positions (like twisting and back bending). Geeta truly reminds us of the real purpose and meaning behind yoga, stating, “My dream is that yoga reaches everyone without losing its real purpose: self-inquiry, balance in life and the pursuit of equality, happiness and oneness, besides health and fitness.” Enjoy her story and tips below!
Have you ever tried goat yoga? Meet today’s woman dreamer, Lainey Morse. She is the Founder/President of Original Goat Yoga, The Goatel & Goat Happy Hour. A big believer of living a life with no regrets, Lainey shares how she started her dream Goat Yoga business, and how the practice helps women with mental health and more! Enjoy her story!
How can you protect your skin and get that healthy glow as you age? How do you maintain your weight? Can you still lose weight as you get older? How do you take care of your mental health while going through menopause? For this week’s Women’s Health Wednesday, in case you missed it, catch a recording of our multi-disciplinary panel answering all your questions on aging gracefully. An informative and relevant discussion, panelists include Dr. Jagriti Upadhyay, an endocrinologist focused on Diabetes Metabolism & Women’s Health at Lowell General Hospital, Dr. Sonal Pandya, Director of Cosmetic & Laser Surgery at Beth Israel Lahey Health, and Dr. Tomi Mitchell, a Leadership & Executive coach with a passion for mental health. Thank you to our lovely host, Dr. Michelle Sparks (Doctor of Podiatric Medicine, Owner of Ankle & Foot Care) for moderating this live webinar! Join us for another Women’s Health Wednesday!
“Stress, Stress, Stress…. This word comes up over and over again” Feeling stressed lately? We bring three women dreamers, Jaya Daptardar, Sunali Shah, and Dhanashree Ramachandran to share their expertise on stress management. From the modern approach of art therapy to practicing meditation, and the traditional ayurvedic approach, find out which practice works best for you. How do you manage your stress?
In our Communities - Powerful and Personal Mental Health Journeys
People with IDDs (intellectual and developmental disabilities) continue to be essentially invisible to the healthcare community, suffering from unique healthcare disparities which have been especially brought to light in the era of COVID-19. However, there are some individuals who have been fighting for the rights of this group for many years. Today’s woman dreamer is Dr. Susan Abend, an internist and endocrinologist who has made it her mission to fix the healthcare disparities for this group, both in clinical practice and through her nonprofit organization, The Right Care Now Project. In this enlightening and powerful conversation with our global Health contributor, Priya Dharampuriya, they discuss her journey with Right Care Now, and how other women can get involved in this crucial initiative. Join us for another Women’s Health Wednesday!
“Only humans possess the ability to live consciously and must strive to do so.” How have you embraced spirituality in your life? Today’s woman dreamer, Sangeeta Bhasin Verma, reflects on her meaningful spiritual journey. She shares how she embraces spiritual principles in the modern world, from listening to gurus lectures' online/in-person to a day in the life from her experience at Sadhguru’s Isha Institute retreat. For those looking to learn more about spirituality in 2022, Sangeeta shares some of her key learnings and how her perspective on life has evolved throughout her journey. Enjoy her story!
Millennial Mental Health
“There are many misconceptions about mental health issues in the South Asian community. The goal is to shed light on the toxic cycle that we do not talk about. The way of life for the past generation does not have to be their children’s’ reality.” Today’s woman dreamer, Nisha Patel is a mental health therapist and the founder of Brown Girl Trauma, a platform dedicated to breaking the cycle of generational trauma and family dysfunction in the South Asian community. Since 2017, she has grown the platform to reach approx 70,000 people. We are excited to conclude Mental Health Month this way with her powerful story!
“The way they say 'you are what you eat' I truly also feel 'you are what you wear'. Everyday you wake up and remove one piece of clothing from your wardrobe, without realising that there is a lot of thought and emotion behind it!” Today’s woman dreamer, Palak Shah, is the Founder of Exhale Label, a brand focused on spreading positive messaging and affordable luxury. Inspired with the name “Exhale Label” on a New York subway when she was studying at Parsons School of Design, Palak shares her exciting journey in the fashion world such as Kareena Kapoor wearing one of her designs to the powerful conversations her label has encouraged women to have on topics like body positivity and self-expression. Enjoy Palak’s inspiring story!