Our Story
The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) was established in 2007 as the academic and training arm of The Banyan.
BALM draws on The Banyan’s extensive experience to strengthen mental health systems through education, research, and social action. Our programmes prepare students and professionals with practical skills and community-driven approaches to care.
We explore lived experiences— from homelessness and caregiving to community wellbeing— to shape more inclusive policies and practices. Our social action work, including fellowships and grassroots interventions, address critical gaps in access for vulnerable groups.
In partnership with The Banyan and Sundram Fasteners Limited, BALM is committed to cultivating ethical leadership and reimagining mental health care that is inclusive, locally relevant and human-centered in India and beyond.
Vision
To build pillars of research, education, training, and advocacy to influence policy change and augment stakeholder collaborations in mental health and social sectors.
Mission
The Banyan Academy of Leadership in Mental Health (BALM) strives to bridge treatment and care gaps through research, social action and education in order to build effective and ethical leadership in the mental health sector, particularly for the ultra-vulnerable populations.
Meet the Team
At BALM, our strength lies in the diverse community that shapes us — researchers, educators, students, practitioners, policymakers and grassroots leaders. Each brings their unique experience, passion and perspective that enables us to move forward in making mental health care inclusive and equitable.
Our Founders
Vandana Gopikumar
Co-founder
Co-founder of The Banyan and Trustee at BALM, Vandana champions inclusive mental health care for marginalized communities. She has led pioneering models, mentored new leadership, and advanced research in community-based care. She also founded the Other Identity Foundation to amplify marginalized voices and foster dialogue on mental health and human rights.
Vaishnavi Jayakumar
Co-founder
Vaishnavi co-founded The Banyan in 1993, choosing to follow her passion for mental health care over finishing her MBA. She built the organization’s systems in administration, finance and team development. In 2008, she stepped down to make way for the next generation of leaders. Since then, Vaishnavi has worked in the disability sector, promoting inclusion and dialogue.
Balraj Vasudevan
Founder Trustee and Treasurer
Balraj is the Founder Trustee and Treasurer at BALM as well as the Vice Chairman of the Board at Devendra Autocom Pvt. Ltd. He brings valuable experience from his previous roles at Autolec Industries Ltd. Balraj is skilled in manufacturing, product development, new business development, business strategy and negotiation. He is an alumnus of Don Bosco, Egmore.
Senior Management Team
Lakshmi Narasimhan
CEO, BALM
Dr. Lakshmi Narasimhan is a mental health researcher and practitioner with nearly 19 years of experience in community-based mental health care. She holds a transdisciplinary PhD from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and a Master’s in Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Lakshmi’s work centres on promoting social inclusion and improving quality of life for people with mental illness, particularly those affected by homelessness.
Lakshmi Sankaran
Director - Training
Dr. Lakshmi Sankaran leads academic training and capacity-building initiatives in mental health services at The Banyan. With over 25 years of experience, she holds a Ph.D. and M.Phil. in Psychiatric Social Work from NIMHANS, and an M.A. in Medical and Psychiatric Social Work from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. She is certified in Open Dialogue, Dialogical Practices, and Arts-Based Therapy.
K S Ramesh
Director - Academics
Dr. K S Ramesh has spent over 25 years working across physical and mental healthcare sectors in various capacities–researcher, entrepreneur, educator, trainer, practitioner, policy developer, manager and leader.
Murugan Krishnan
Senior Advisor, Finance
Murugan is a seasoned Finance professional with over 35 years of experience, including nearly two decades in the NGO sector. Beyond the numbers, he brings the same energy and focus to his love for sports, keeping both mind and body actively engaged.
Core Team
A. Sowmiya
SFL Fellow & Programme Coordinator
Sowmiya holds a B.Sc in Computer Science and manages scholarships for vulnerable children. She is passionate about expanding access to education and helping children build brighter futures.
Kaisar Jahan
SFL Fellow & Programme Coordinator
Kaisar is responsible for conducting the after-care program for clients across India after they are discharged. She undertakes monthly follow-ups on their medication, work schedule and overall well-being, as well as a video psychiatric review. She also leads the Happiness and Well-Being Centre, where she imparts life skills to children in state-run schools, motivating them to achieve their fullest potential.
Vijayalakshmi Balasundaram
Assistant Director, Administration and HR
Vijayalakshmi holds a postgraduate in Psychology with a specialisation in Organisational Behaviour. She brings two decades of experience in manpower management across the corporate and social service sectors.
Nagarajan T
Senior Manager, Internal Services
Nagarajan T serves as the Senior Manager, Internal Services at BALM. He brings over two decades of experience as a library professional across freelance roles, colleges, and universities. He has made notable contributions to academic library services in diverse institutions. His expertise includes the development and management of digital library systems. He also supports administrative functions, logistics, documentation, events, and program coordination.
Jyothi Babu
Manager, Accounts
Jyothi Babu is a stock market enthusiast with over 15 years of experience in Accounts and Finance. He holds an M.Com in Finance and an MBA in Marketing and HR.
Krithika S H
Lead, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, BALM
Krithika oversees overall operations for the verticals of education, training, and social action. With a Master’s in Social Work and years of grassroots experience in youth development and counselling, Krithika brings a strong community lens to her work—combining field practice with strategic leadership to support the mental health and wellbeing of young people.
Elizabeth Sujeetha A
Academic Coordinator
Elizabeth has a background in physics and medical psychiatric social work. Her work blends analytical thinking with compassion, focusing on mental health initiatives for children and women. She is engaged in education training programs and a project related to mental health support for the deaf community, aiming to create inclusive spaces for emotional growth.
Amritha Preethi Anand
Project Coordinator
Amritha coordinates the Diploma in Mental Well-being of Vulnerable Children program. She enjoys working with students from various backgrounds and learning from their interactions during role plays, presentations and group discussions.
Sambhu Ramesh
Senior Research Associate
Sambhu is a public health professional and pharmacist, focusing on mental health promotion and community-based health initiatives. He works to improve the well-being of adolescents and young adults with chronic and life-limiting illnesses.
Aishwarya Ramesh
Senior Research Associate
Aishwarya holds a B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering and an M.Sc. in Psychology of Mental Health. At BALM, she conducts research for the community mental health program, NALAM, with a focus on community-based care, public mental health, self-harm and violent behaviors.
Board of Trustees
Mr. A S Narayanan
Chairperson
Mr. Mustafa Moochhala
Mr. N. Ram
Director, The Hindu Group Publishing Private Limited
Mr. Siva Kumar
Managing Director, Prabha Engineers
Ms. Swetha Amarnath Reddy
Motivational Coach
Mr. Vikram Phadke
CEO, Interspace Inc
Dr. K Sujatha Rao
Former Union Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India
Ms. R. Madhuri Menon
Director at Amaya Management Consultants
Ms. Soumya Rajan
Founder & CEO at Waterfield Advisors
Ms. Shweta Rawat
Managing Director, RIST
Mr. Vijay Narayan
Senior Advocate
Our Partners
Annual Reports
Our annual reports offer a comprehensive view of our work on the ground. From academic courses and student testimonies to training programmes for mental health professionals, each report captures key milestones and moments of learning. They also offer insight into how we engage with vulnerable communities, shape research, influence public policy and how our funding is used to drive meaningful change.
If you want to understand the depth and breadth of BALM’s impact, this is the place to begin.
BALM at a glance
What’s New at BALM
Stay updated with the latest announcements, program updates and institutional news from across our ecosystem.
Real Stories. Real People
Stories from our communities offer a glimpse into how BALM’s work is transforming lives across geographies and contexts.