About Us

Where hope finds a home 

Every morning in homes across India, people like Amali and Jacqueline wake up to possibilities they once thought impossible. The sisters, once ostracised from their village and rendered homeless due to mental health conditions, now lead their community’s mental health initiatives, transforming the very perceptions that once excluded them. For three decades, at The Banyan we have walked alongside people experiencing homelessness and mental health conditions, understanding that healing begins with being seen, heard, and valued.

Our work at the complex intersection of mental illness, and social exclusion combines comprehensive clinical interventions with emancipatory initiatives that confront the systems that keep people at the margins, visible yet invisible.

From Institutions to Shared Lives

Our evidence-based interventions operate across multiple levels. In our Emergency Care and Recovery Centers, over 4,000 homeless people with mental illness—the majority of them women—have found not just treatment but a pathway back to life and the community on their own terms. We celebrate each victory: a woman reuniting with her family, returning to work, or simply rediscovering her sense of self. Through our WHO-recognized Home Again program, over 1,000 people—60% of whom are women—have moved from institutional settings into shared homes. Where they choose their housemates and shape their daily lives. Here, recovery isn’t measured in clinical terms alone but in morning coffees shared, gardens tended together and hopes rekindled. In communities, our NALAM program reaches into the heart of villages and urban neighborhoods. Our grassroots mental health mobilisers, many of whom have walked similar paths, have supported over 10,000 people, proving that understanding and empathy can bridge any gap.

Lived Experience Leading Policy Change

But our work isn’t about numbers; it’s about each person reclaiming their story, their dignity, and their place in the world. 

What makes our approach transformative? Eighty percent of our workforce are women, and 32% are individuals with lived experience of mental illness. When someone arrives at one of our services, they are welcomed by staff and leaders who have walked similar paths and understand their journey firsthand. This is not just about representation—it’s about fundamentally shifting who holds power in mental healthcare. 

Our evidence, drawn from a mixed-methods evaluation framework and partnerships-based advocacy, has facilitated successful policy adoption across three Indian states, with replication in seven others and two low- and middle-income countries. Through collaborations with state governments and grassroots organisations, our models have now been adopted in ten Indian states and two additional countries. 

Our Vision

An Inclusive, Just, and Humane World That Promotes Capabilities and Participation Among Persons Living with Psychosocial Distress

Our vision is to create a world that is inclusive, just, and humane—one that values the capabilities and active participation of individuals living with psychosocial distress. We believe it is our collective responsibility to support those living at the margins, ensuring they have the resources and opportunities to lead fulfilling lives. Guided by principles of social justice and human rights, we are committed to empowering individuals with psychosocial disabilities and advancing their full inclusion in society. 

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Our Mission

Enabling Access To Comprehensive, Integrated, Person-Centred Mental Health Care For Persons Living In Poverty And Homelessness Through Culturally Resonant Clinical And Social Care Pathways.

We work tirelessly to enable access to comprehensive, integrated, person-centred mental health care for persons living in poverty and homelessness via culturally resonant clinical and social care pathways. With over three decades of experience in the field, we have helped transform the lives of countless individuals and families nationwide. Join us in our mission to create a more inclusive and equitable society where everyone can access the care and support, they need to live happy, healthy lives.

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Our Story

Tracing Our Journey Towards Building Better Mental Health Ecosystems

In 1993, Vandana Gopikumar and Vaishnavi Jayakumar encountered a woman walking in the middle of traffic on a busy road in Chennai. She was homeless with a mental health issue and visibly distressed. In their attempts to find her a safe space, they discovered that there were no services that acknowledged the needs of the marginalised constituency of homeless women with mental illness. Several more such encounters over the next few months left the duo disillusioned and the idea was born: they should do something about the problem themselves. This led to the founding of The Banyan on August 27, 1993.

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