In Asia’s relentless work culture, mental wellness is often sidelined, seen as a luxury rather than a necessity. But that’s beginning to change. A growing number of voices redefining mental wellness in Asia are challenging the stigma, rewriting the narrative, and carving space for self-care in everyday life.
In Redefining Mental Wellness in Asia, we spotlight 10 inspiring voices who are changing how we think, talk, and act about mental health. From breathwork to digital therapy, they are building a future where wellness is part of the blueprint, not the bandage.
Highlights
Samriddhi Malhotra
Samriddhi Malhotra, a growth strategist turned breathwork facilitator, is transforming how individuals connect with their inner selves through conscious breathing. After years in growth roles across startups, she founded Guided Breathing Journeys, offering immersive workshops that unlock self-awareness one breath at a time.
Previously, she led growth at HabitStrong and consulted for a New York-based startup backed by Greylock and Khosla Ventures. There, she built a full-funnel growth engine from scratch. Today, through her work, Samriddhi invites people to slow down and explore healing from within—a shift she personally embodies and passionately champions.
Dr. Saliha Afridi
Dr. Saliha Afridi, a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of The LightHouse Arabia, is on a mission to destigmatize mental health in the Middle East. Since relocating from the US to Dubai in 2008, she has become a guiding force for individuals and families seeking wholeness and authentic happiness.
After founding The LightHouse Arabia in 2011, Dr. Afridi has grown the practice into a regional leader, blending clinical excellence with community outreach. Moreover, as a speaker and media expert, she bridges emotional science with human experience, reminding us that healing begins not with time, but with truth.
Divya Shah
From the strategy rooms of startups to the quiet revolution of mental healthcare, Divya Shah brings rare authenticity to her mission. After guiding over 50 emerging companies as a brand strategist, Divya founded Vinyasa Health, inspired by her eight-year journey as a therapy client.
“Just as a strong tree needs well-nourished roots, the mental health ecosystem depends on supported therapists,” she explains. Unlike typical tech solutions, Vinyasa Health was built with a unique perspective—created by a client for therapists, with tools that reduce administrative burdens while enhancing client care.
Where others focus solely on access, Divya champions the caregivers themselves. Her innovation isn’t just about streamlining paperwork—it’s about honoring the human behind the healer, giving therapists the freedom to focus on what truly matters: healing.
Sabrina Ooi
Sabrina Ooi, a bipolar disorder survivor turned CEO, is rewriting the narrative of mental health in Asia through Calm Collective Asia. Founded in 2020, her platform fosters peer support and psychological safety in the workplace, with programs backed by the National Youth Council and UNDP.
Having collaborated with Spotify, The Body Shop, and IHH Healthcare, Sabrina merges lived experience with organizational strategy. Moreover, her team of 200+ volunteers represents a growing movement toward accessible mental wellbeing, proving that healing is both individual and collective.
Dr Timothy Low
Dr Timothy Low, a decorated healthcare leader and author, brings decades of executive insight into the conversation around mental wellness. As the former CEO of Parkway Pantai’s Gleneagles Hospital and Farrer Park Hospital, he championed holistic, people-first healthcare systems long before wellness became a buzzword.
Currently serving on boards and consulting in healthcare investment, Dr Low also authored The Triangulation of Success, emphasizing empathy as a strategic asset. Recognized as a LinkedIn Top Motivational Voice in 2024, his impact continues to bridge clinical excellence with human-centered leadership.
Azran Osman-Rani
Azran Osman-Rani, a serial entrepreneur and former airline CEO, is now steering the digital mental health revolution through his company Naluri. As Co-Founder and CEO, he combines behavioral science and digital tools to help people build mental resilience alongside physical health, bridging the clinical and corporate worlds.
Having led organizations like iflix Malaysia and AirAsia X, Azran brings a results-driven lens to mental wellness. Moreover, he advocates for purpose-based performance as an author and executive coach. His mission is straightforward: to make mental and physical health accessible and sustainable for all.
Michelle Mah
Michelle Mah, a psychotherapist and founder of Rebalance Training & Consulting, transforms both personal and professional spaces with her deeply empathetic, trauma-informed approach. Drawing from her battles with bulimia and burnout, she crafts programs that are raw, real, and rooted in lived experience.
Beyond her 1:1 therapy sessions, Michelle partners with corporations to elevate well-being and emotional intelligence across generations. In addition, as a TEDx speaker, adjunct lecturer, and mindfulness facilitator, she consistently bridges scientific evidence with human connection, proving that healing begins when we allow ourselves to be seen.
Jonathan Kuek
Jonathan Kuek, a passionate mental health recovery researcher, is reshaping academic perspectives through his roles at James Cook University and the Singapore University of Social Sciences. His work dives deep into how society defines and experiences mental health recovery, offering nuanced insights from both scholarship and advocacy.
Notably, Jonathan’s contributions extend beyond the classroom. As a BMC Medical Education editorial board member and public voice on ethics in mental health, he challenges outdated norms and champions evidence-based empathy. Through his lens, research becomes a tool not just for knowledge, but for social change.
Alex Loh
Alex Loh, once a national water polo athlete, now leads a different kind of team—as a Growth Mindset Coach and founder of Aviary & Co.. Having turned personal trials like PTSD and divorce into fuel for growth, he empowers others to navigate life with resilience and intention.
In addition to leading workshops and corporate training, Alex hosts two podcasts, Athlete’s Grit and Lost at 40, where he unpacks the intersection of masculinity, mental health, and career reinvention. By embracing vulnerability as strength, Alex is helping men—and organizations—redefine what thriving truly means.
Tanmoy Goswami
Tanmoy Goswami, a former business journalist turned mental health advocate, is the creator of Sanity by Tanmoy, India’s first 100% reader-funded mental health storytelling platform. What began as a personal reckoning with depression and anxiety has evolved into a powerful movement for narrative justice.
Previously an editor at The Economic Times and Fortune India, Tanmoy now writes with unflinching honesty about suicide, stigma, and healing. As a Reuters Institute Fellow and advisory board member for the Centre for Global Mental Health, he continues to champion underrepresented voices, reminding us that stories, when told truthfully, can heal nations.
Redefining Mental Wellness in Asia Starts With Us
As Asia’s business landscape grows louder, these changemakers remind us that silence around mental health helps no one. They’re not just raising awareness but rebuilding systems with care at the center.
Redefining Mental Wellness in Asia is more than a theme—it’s a call to action. When we care for our minds, we unlock the kind of impact that truly lasts.
So, whether you’re a founder navigating burnout, a leader rethinking team dynamics, or someone seeking balance in a hyper-connected world, this is your invitation.
Let’s redefine what wellness means, together.
Highlights
Read the article in Chinese here.
