WORLD WE IMAGINE - Part 3

Durga Mental Health Alliance - Transforming Access to Mental Health, One Woman at a Time

About Us 

Durga Mental Health Alliance brings together psychiatric professionals, technology platforms, and local healthcare partners to transform women's mental healthcare in developing nations. Our name is inspired by the Hindu goddess, Durga, who embodies protection, inner strength, and triumph over obstacles - qualities we channel into taking on the challenge of inadequate mental healthcare systems that affect millions of women worldwide.

Mission 

Our aim is to eliminate the barriers preventing women in developing nations from accessing essential psychiatric care. Our model combines virtual psychiatric consultations, mobile clinics, and direct medication delivery to reach women in underserved communities, ensuring that basic mental healthcare becomes an attainable right regardless of location or circumstances.

By connecting women with trained psychiatrists who can provide consistent treatment access, we hope to create lasting change in communities where mental health support has been historically out of reach. 

Why I am Passionate

As the founder of Durga Mental Health Alliance, my work with Maher Ashram in their womens facility in India has shown me the devastating impact of mental health crises on women and their communities. These experiences have driven my commitment to expanding mental healthcare access not just in India, but worldwide.

Opportunity

Global health initiatives have traditionally viewed women's health primarily through the lens of maternal care, overlooking the broader spectrum of mental health needs. In developing nations, women face complex challenges affecting their mental well-being: economic dependence, domestic violence, overwork, cultural constraints, and limited social status (United Nations). With some regions having just one psychiatrist per million people (UNICEF), traditional healthcare systems simply aren't equipped to address these needs.

This crisis presents an opportunity to reshape how mental health services reach women whose suffering has often been minimized or misunderstood. Research shows women disproportionately face mental health challenges, often stemming from social circumstances rather than purely biological factors.

Solution

Our initiative delivers psychiatric care through three key components:

• A telemedicine platform connecting women to psychiatrists who understand their language and cultural context, accessible through basic mobile devices

• Mobile psychiatric clinics that travel to underserved regions, equipped with assessment tools and staffed by rotating psychiatric professionals

• A reliable medication delivery system ensuring prescribed treatments reach patients directly and discreetly

What Makes Us Unique? 

Our approach stands apart by removing every possible barrier to psychiatric care access. Unlike traditional mental health organizations that expect patients to overcome multiple obstacles, we bring care directly to women through a seamless combination of technology and human touch.

Our business model completely changes how women access psychiatric care by removing traditional barriers. Based on our healthcare experiences, we understand that healthcare solutions need to be flexible and culturally sensitive. That's why we've created a comprehensive system that lets women choose care that fits their lives. This end-to-end model ensures that common obstacles like distance, privacy concerns, and cultural expectations don't stand in the way of getting help.

Funding Request 

To launch and scale DMHA through its pilot phase, we are seeking a total investment of $500,000 from Anima Mundi Development Partners. This funding will establish our comprehensive mental healthcare delivery system and support our first year of operations, creating a foundation to serve 1,000 women in underserved communities.

• Telemedicine Platform Development - $200,000: Creation of user-friendly virtual consultation system connecting women with culturally-competent psychiatrists

• Mobile Clinic Setup - $150,000: Purchase and equipment of two psychiatric clinics with private consultation spaces and assessment tools

• Medication Delivery Infrastructure - $100,000: Establishment of pharmaceutical partnerships and delivery networks for consistent treatment access

• First-Year Operations - $50,000: Staff training, community outreach programs, and administrative costs

With demonstrated success, we plan to expand to five additional regions within three years through subsequent funding rounds of $2M, scaling our impact while maintaining quality of care.

Why Invest? 

By supporting our initiative, Anima Mundi Development Partners has the opportunity to pioneer a transformative solution in global mental healthcare. Our model is both scalable and replicable, meaning initial investments in our platform, clinics, and delivery system can efficiently expand to new regions without proportionally increasing costs.

The investment opportunity is particularly timely as global awareness of mental health needs grows, yet solutions for developing nations remain scarce. Our focus on leveraging technology while maintaining human connection creates an efficient, cost-effective model that can achieve significant scale while maintaining quality of care.

Sources:

UNICEF. “Mental Health a Human Right, but Only 1 Psychiatrist per 1,000,000 People in Sub-Saharan Africa – UNICEF/WHO.” UNICEF, 10 Oct. 2023, https://www.unicef.org/esa/press-releases/mental-health-a-human-right. 

United Nations, and Mary-Jo Del Vecchio Good. “Women and Mental Health.” United Nations, https://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/csw/mental.htm.

WORLD WE IMAGINE Part 1

Initial Reflections:

Reading "The Blue Sweater" really opened my eyes to the powerful story of Jacqueline Novogratz leaving her promising Wall Street career to help alleviate poverty in Africa. Her decision, driven by a deep desire to make a meaningful difference, made me question my own values and the kind of impact I want to have in the world. As a business major at Marshall, I've been caught up in a culture that values high-paying jobs in prestigious firms, focusing on status and what looks good on a resume. However, my experiences in consulting, where I mostly helped big companies grow their profits, have left me wondering if there's more to my career path.

My involvement in projects like the Global Honors Research program, helping MSMEs in Indonesia, and setting up a mental health telemedicine clinic called Love&Time, has shown me the impact that focused, compassionate work can have. These experiences have inspired me to think about how I can use my skills in consulting, healthcare, and marketing to genuinely help others and change lives. Now, I'm considering how I can align my career with these insights to create a positive, lasting impact in the world.

Based on my experience and interests, my ideas for making a difference in the world revolves around two visions to help in developing countries: economic empowerment for MSMEs (micro scale) and mental health support for mothers. 

Economic Empowerment for Micro Enterprises

Vision: Inspired by Jacqueline Novogratz's mission, I envision a future where micro-enterprises, especially in developing countries, thrive by reaching broader markets and streamlining their operations. My goal is to empower these small businesses by helping them starting by understanding their business objectives.

Ideas: 

• Business Training Workshops: I could potentially develop workshops that teach micro enterprise owners how to define clear business objectives, enhance their financial and digital literacy, integrating technology, and understand their market, and plan operations to meet their goals.

Other ideas: marketing and branding initiatives, supply chain optimization, and market expansion. 

Mental Health Support for Mothers

Vision: Recognizing the profound impact of mental health on families, I am committed to improving mental health support for mothers worldwide. This initiative is crucial not only for the mothers’ well-being but also for the developmental and emotional health of their children.

Ideas:

• Telemedicine and Community Clinics: Building on my previous work with the Love&Time project, I plan to extend services to more regions, focusing on accessible mental health care through telemedicine and local clinics.

Other ideas: awareness and education campaigns, and establishing support networks. 

From Reflection to Action: My Journey Ahead

Inspired by Jacqueline Novogratz's transformative journey in "The Blue Sweater," I am driven to reshape my own career path, aiming not only for personal success but to make substantive contributions to global well-being. My commitment to fostering economic empowerment for micro-enterprises and enhancing mental health support for mothers reflects a deep desire to enact real change. Through these ideas for initiatives, I plan to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity in underserved communities.

This vision transcends mere assistance—it's about reimagining how we, as future business leaders, can integrate social responsibility into the essence of our careers. Motivated by the powerful role that business can play in societal improvement, I am eager to challenge the status quo. With dedicated effort and empathetic leadership, I strive to create a world where economic and personal well-being are within everyone's reach, delivering on the promise of a connected global community.

Random Post 2: Yogi & Milo

 For my second Random Blog Post, I want to share the story of my two beloved dogs, Yogi and Milo.

Yogi & Milo: aka "The Boys" 

They are Mini Australian shepherds and actually brothers from different litters! We got them both from an Amish farm, getting Yogi first, then for my 13th birthday, we somehow ended up back at the same farm where we found Milo. 

Looking at these two brothers, some found it hard to believe they came from the same parents since they were total opposites in both looks and personality.

Yogi: (aka Yogs, YogurtCup, Mr. Yogi, Yog-Master, Oddly, Tubbs) 

Yogi was the runt of his litter, a dark grey merle with short stick legs and small paws that somehow supported his tubby, oddly shaped body. With his small snout and brown eyes that had just a fleck of blue in them, he looked like he was stuffed like a sausage - which actually made him the perfect cuddle partner. He was a calm, affectionate, and emotionally-sensitive dog who liked to take life at a slow, easy-going pace. He was wise beyond his years – I like to call him an old soul, and was always there when you needed him (while making sure he got all his itches scratched in return). He loved nothing more than sleeping under the covers with you all night long.

Milo: (aka Meels, Milo-Man, Meats (short for Meatball), Tiddlywinks)

Milo was the perfect example of an Aussie - white merle pattern, slim and athletic with a large snout and big paws, and of course the highly desired heterochromia trait with one brown and one ice blue eye. But don't let his  beautiful eyes fool you - there isn't a thought behind them! He is what we like to call a "forever puppy" who knows nothing but bark and play fetch, most likely because we got him at 8 weeks old which was too young to be separated from his mother (hey, we didn't know! The Amish farmer just wanted to make a quick buck). Unlike his cuddly brother, Milo is a high-energy, attention-seeking, trouble-making dog who absolutely loathes being cuddled.

Together they had an interesting dynamic - the perfect mix of typical brothers and partners in crime. While Milo played fetch at the park, Yogi would be off sniffing the flowers. As you would expect from brothers, they’d have their occasional dragon fights (pictured below). 

Despite these brotherly squabbles, Yogi always took on the role of big brother, doing his routinely brotherly duties to clean Milo after every walk. Milo, when he wasn't trying to annoy his big brother, looked up to Yogi and followed his every move. 

Even though they differed in many ways, they were in the end true brothers, cut from the same cloth. Both loved to eat ice cream and had a shared intense hatred for skateboarders. They were even known as "the boys" at the dog park because they would gang up to herd the other dogs whenever their Aussie instincts kicked in. 

As we all grew up together, their story took many turns - our cat, Rigby entered and left the picture (pictured below), Milo became paralyzed in his back legs (but miraculously fully recovered), and their brief separation period after my parent’s split which helped them develop into their own identities (before reuniting with a stronger relationship than ever).  

Sadly, as I mentioned in my earlier post, Yogi passed last year, which was very difficult for all of us. While I wasn't with Milo after it happened, he too grieved in his own way and had to learn how to navigate the rest of his life without his brother. I can't imagine what he must have felt, but I know Yogi comes down to visit him to let him know he's never alone.

Growing up with Yogi and Milo was one of the best parts of my life. What seemed like opposites - a sensitive soul and an eternal puppy - created this perfect balance in our family, each brother filling in what the other needed. Through all our changes, from childhood to adulthood, from one home to two, they've been there making both the hard times and good times better just by being themselves. Even though Yogi is gone now, I try to be present and cherish every moment I have with Milo, while keeping all our memories - the ice cream sharing, the weekend reunions, the flower sniffing, and endless games of fetch - close to my heart.

Book 2, Post 2

 While I haven't fully finished "Resilient" yet, it has already provided me with eye-opening realizations and practical skills. As mentioned earlier, I was initially skeptical of self-help books since they often preach vague, feel-good advice without substance. However, I'm glad I gave this genre one last chance, as "Resilient" proved my generalizations wrong.

The book is structured around 12 chapters, each focusing on a different inner strength. These are organized by how we fulfill our needs: recognizing what's true, resourcing ourselves, regulating thoughts and feelings, and relating to others and the world.

The Good: 

My favorite chapters have been Mindfulness (Ch 2) and Grit (Ch 4). 

The Mindfulness chapter made me realize how much I operate on autopilot, constantly rushing from one task to another between school, recruitment, and personal responsibilities. When Hanson wrote "the person you are gradually becomes what your attention rests upon," it hit home so hard that I immediately deleted TikTok from my phone. I recognized how much time I spent mindlessly scrolling instead of being present in my own life.

The Grit chapter resonated with me because it addressed something I struggle with - feeling overwhelmed when challenges pile up. Instead of falling into learned helplessness, I've started looking for small ways to take action rather than letting things happen to me. This shift in perspective has already helped me approach my academic and personal challenges more effectively.

The Bad/Ugly (not really): 

While mostly positive, there were moments reading this book that challenged my existing mindset. I sometimes found myself resistant to the idea of being too compassionate with ourselves, probably because I'm used to holding myself to extremely high standards. The book also forced me to confront some uncomfortable truths and memories I'd been avoiding. However, this discomfort proved productive rather than detrimental.

I would recommend this book, especially to those of us about to start full-time jobs. It's better to develop these resilience tools now before getting caught up in the demands of a career. Even if you only have time to skim through, the insights and practical techniques make it worth the read. Just make sure you're mentally prepared for some serious self-reflection.

Book 2, Post 1: Resilient

For Book 2, I chose to read "Resilient: How to Grow an Unshakable Core of Calm, Strength, and Happiness" by Rick Hanson. At first, I was skeptical of "self-help" books, so I initially overlooked it. However, I decided to give this one a chance because I was drawn to the promise that the book offers evidence based on neuroscience to explain how these techniques actually change our brain chemistry.

This book promises tools to build resilience amid daily stress and life's inevitable challenges. From the introduction, I hope to learn how to heal from my past, cope with the present, and build a better, happier future - not just for myself, but to be at my best for others too. I'm looking for concrete techniques I can use during difficult times, as well as regular habits to maintain resilience when life throws curveballs.

I'm currently in the first section, "Recognizing," which begins with the chapter on Compassion. A quote from Rabbi Hillel really struck me: "If I am not for myself, then who will be for me? If not now, when?" This highlighted that while I could wait to develop these skills as I get older, building better habits will only become harder with time.

The Compassion chapter points out how we're often better at supporting others in their suffering than ourselves. But having empathy for our own struggles can be the first step toward addressing them. I especially appreciate how Dr. Hanson includes neuroscience reasoning throughout the book - this objective perspective makes the techniques more credible to me than typical self-help advice based solely on feelings or intangible benefits.

Overall, I'm finding value in this book and bookmarking key sections to revisit these techniques later.

*uploaded late after blog post got stuck in the drafts*

ADMP Investment Proposal

 Brambles Ltd Investment Proposal

TO: Clark Hansen, CEO, Anima Mundi Development Partners 

FROM: Tara Shinde, Research & Development

DATE: Wed Oct 16, 2024 

SUBJECT: Investment Opportunity: Brambles Ltd

As part of AMDP's Research and Development team, my job is to seek investments that balance profitability with social and environmental responsibility. I strongly recommend Brambles Ltd, a supply-chain logistics company whose sustainable, circular business model of reusable pallets and containers aligns with our investment criteria.

AMDP Standards 

Before I discuss Brambles Ltd, I want to reiterate the standards of AMDP when considering possible investments.

• Triple Bottom Line: AMDP evaluates a company using the TBL sustainability framework to measure a company's social, environmental, and financial impact. It focuses on three key areas: 

• “Profit” is the traditional measure comparing revenues and costs. 

• “People” takes into account the social responsibilities of the company – how it treats its employees, customers, and community. 

• “Planet” measures the company’s environmental awareness and what it does to protect the planet.

• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): The CSR model is used to determine what initiatives businesses are taking to consider the environmental and social impacts of their decisions in order to reduce harm where possible, beyond just maximizing profit (HBR).

• Social Enterprise: A social enterprise is a business primarily aimed at addressing social issues. These enterprises prioritize social goals alongside profit, using their earnings to maximize improvements in societal and environmental well-being (Investopedia).  

• Carbon Footprint: 

• Carbon Footprint: A measure of total carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from an entity's activities (Britannica). Companies track emissions across product lifecycles and operations (ClimateTrade). Reducing carbon footprints mitigates climate change while driving health benefits, energy security, and economic innovation through improved efficiency (ClimateTrade).

Brambles: Company Overview

Established in 1875, Brambles Ltd is an Australian supply-chain logistics company that operates the world's largest pool of reusable pallets and containers. Originally a butchery business, it evolved into a global logistics leader serving diverse sectors including consumer goods, food and beverage, automotive, and pharmaceuticals (Brambles). 

The company employs over 12,000 people and manages approximately 360 million pallets, crates, and containers through 750+ service centers across 60 countries, with primary operations in North America and Western Europe (CHEP).

Pioneer of the Sharing Economy: 

As pioneers of the sharing economy, Brambles' circular business model enables the share and reuse of pallets, crates, and containers across global supply chains (Brambles). This approach delivers operational and financial efficiencies while minimizing environmental impact, offering advantages that single-use alternatives cannot match. The company helps customers reduce waste and improve supply chain safety through its end-to-end logistics solutions.

Sustainability Strategy:

Brambles generates value through a ‘share and reuse’ model that leverages its scale, density and expertise to achieve superior operational efficiencies (Brambles). These efficiencies in turn generate cash flow that can either be returned to shareholders or reinvested in the business to fund growth, innovation, the development of its people and build a more resilient business. 

Brambles sustainability strategy organises the company’s sustainability activities and goals under three broad programs: Better Business; Better Planet; and Better Communities. 

Better Business:

• Customers: Brambles enables enhanced customer experiences and innovative supply chain solutions through digital transformation and collaborative partnerships (Brambles)

• Shareholders: Brambles generates strong cash flow through operational efficiency, delivering dividends and strategic reinvestment in growth. Additionally, it has a strong FY23 revenue of $6.35B USD with 19% profit growth (Brambles).

• Employees: Brambles maintains Global Top Employer status by focusing on employee development, workplace safety, and diversity, with a target of 40% women in its workforce (Brambles).

Better Planet: 

Brambles takes nature-positive action through its circular business model, targeting net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The company promotes forest regeneration through sustainable wood sourcing and advances zero waste initiatives through product repurposing and water stewardship (Brambles).

Better Communities: 

Brambles makes strives in creating value for their communities by collaborating with food banks, advocating for the education of 1 million people in circular economy, and commitments to developing natural and social capital accounting approaches. 

Industry Opinions on Brambles Ltd's Sustainability Practices:

Brambles has consistently received recognition for its sustainability efforts:

1. Retained the top spot in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) for the Commercial Services & Supplies category in 2023, marking its tenth consecutive year as a DJSI World constituent (Dow Jones Sustainability World Index).

2. Ranked third most sustainable company globally in Corporate Knights' Global 100 index for 2023 (Yahoo Finance).

However, industry experts have noted challenges:

1. Balancing rising operational costs with sustainable practices (GlobalData).

2. Maintaining profitability amid fluctuating demand and global supply chain disruptions (GlobalData).

These perspectives highlight both Brambles' leadership in sustainability and the ongoing challenges of scaling sustainable practices within a resource-intensive industry.

Recommendation:

Following your directive to identify a potential investment that aligns with Anima Mundi Development Partners' commitment to social responsibility, environmental sustainability, and profitability, I am pleased to recommend Brambles Ltd. As a global leader in supply chain logistics solutions, Brambles exemplifies our investment criteria through its innovative and sustainable business practices.

References:

About. (2024). Brambles Corporate Site. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.brambles.com/about

Brambles announces changes to CHEP Americas leadership. (2024). CHEP USA. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.chep.com/us/en/brambles-announces-changes-chep-americas-leadership

Brambles Limited (BXB.AX) Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Ratings. (2024). Yahoo Finance. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://au.finance.yahoo.com/quote/BXB.AX/sustainability/

Brambles Limited (BXB). (2018). GlobalData plc. ProQuest. https://libproxy.usc.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/reports/brambles-limited-bxb/docview/2214941646/se-2

Conservation International. (n.d.). What is a carbon footprint? Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.conservation.org/stories/what-is-a-carbon-footprint

Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. (2024). S&P Dow Jones Indices. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/sustainability/dow-jones-sustainability-world-index/#overview

Key Financials. (2024). Brambles Corporate Site. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.brambles.com/key-financials

Plasencia, J. (2022, August 18). The evolution of carbon footprint measurement. ClimateTrade. https://climatetrade.com/the-evolution-of-carbon-footprint-measurement/

Reducing emissions to lessen climate change would yield dramatic health benefits by 2030. (2021, November 30). Climate Change: Vital Signs of the Planet. https://climate.nasa.gov/news/3134/reducing-emissions-to-lessen-climate-change-would-yield-dramatic-health-benefits-by-2030/

Research, Z. E. (2024, August 28). What makes Brambles (BXBLY) a new strong buy stock. Yahoo. https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/makes-brambles-bxbly-strong-buy-160010387.html

Scott, M. (2023, January 18). The 100 most sustainable companies of 2023. Corporate Knights. https://www.corporateknights.com/rankings/global-100-rankings/2023-global-100-rankings/2023-global-100-most-sustainable-companies/

Selin, N. E. (2010, May 25). Carbon footprint. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/carbon-footprint

The Investopedia Team. (2014, September 25). Social enterprise: What it is, how it works, and examples. Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-enterprise.asp

What is corporate social responsibility? 4 types. (2021, April 8). Business Insights Blog. https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/types-of-corporate-social-responsibility