Get Unstuck

Minal Mahtani is the CEO and Founder of OCD & Anxiety Support Hong Kong (OCDAHK), a registered mental health charity (91/16212) dedicated to counselling, educating, supporting and being a resource to adults and teenagers who are affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Depression and Anxiety Disorders. She has received training in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance Commitment Therapy and possesses degrees in both Psychology and Education. She is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, Counsellor and a Stress Management Yoga teacher (RYT500). In addition to running the charity, Minal has her own counselling, consulting and training. practice, Get Unstuck. Furthermore, she is the co-author of Amazon’s 2021 Best Seller #Myvoice- a Collective Memoir by Women of Substance.

Minal understands the challenges, stigma and struggles associated with mental health disorders, having experienced anxiety in her early years, making her relatable to sufferers on both a personal and professional level. Minal counsels individuals with a range of mental health disorders and holds free monthly support groups meetings for adults and youth with mental illnesses providing them with a safe, compassionate, confidential and non-judgmental space to share their fears.

Minal conducts mental health workshops in a variety of settings including health clinics, schools, corporates and to disadvantaged/minority communities. . Minal has been a key player in the development of HSBC’s Sunflower Lanyard Scheme an initiative launched this year to make banking and financial services more user-friendly and accessible to those with mental health problems. She is committed to research in the field of mental health and in 2018 conducted a study which culminated in the publication ‘”State of Mental Health Awareness in HK and well-being in the workplace”.

Minal is passionate about mental health advocacy and eradicating stigma associated with it in Hong Kong. She is the pioneer of the Green Ribbon Campaign which she brought to the city in 2014, a world-wide anti-stigma and awareness campaign which sheds light on mental illness and debunks misconceptions and prejudices towards sufferers. Minal was responsible and influential in putting Mental Health Awareness Month on the map in HK.

To cope with the high demands of counselling services due to the severe impact of Covid-19 on mental wellbeing. Minal has recently set up a free counselling clinic for individuals who cannot afford or access counselling through the private or public sector. The counselling clinic is called ‘The Rainbow of Hope’ and was set up in honour of Minal’s late mother, Mira R Mahtani (who was her inspiration).

Minal has accumulated numerous accolades for her contribution to mental health services in Hong Kong. These include ; Nominee for the Women of Hope 2018 award (HK Tatler and HKAF), Nominee for the Women of Influence 2018 award (AmCham Women), Recipient of ‘HK Woman Entrepreneur’ ‘award by Citicorp 2020 , “HK Women of Wellness’ award by Liv Magazine , ‘Hong Kong Living’s 50 Top Influencer’ award in 2021and the 'Excellence Award 2002' from the India Associaiton of HK withi CE John Lee. OCDAHK is a global partner and ambassador of The International OCD Foundation (USA).