In the year 2020, I was working as the Chief Psychiatrist at the Mental Health Centre, Peroorkada, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. It was my 23rd year in the Kerala Government Health Service.
While I was taking a class for psychology students, one student asked, ‘Sir, why can’t we start an online platform to discuss psychological topics?’ At that time, the class consisted of a small group of about ten students.
After the class, we gathered in the conference hall to discuss the idea and to decide on a name for the platform. Some postgraduate students of psychiatry, from medical college trivandrum were present in the hall also joined the discussion. One of them suggested the name “I Mind The Mind.”
Thus was born our WhatsApp group, I Mind The Mind on 26/02/2000. In the beginning, it consisted of just 20–30 psychology students. The intention was simple—to create a space for psychological awareness among students. Gradually, a thought emerged: why limit this only to students? Why not extend awareness to the wider public as well?
We began inviting people from all walks of life. Soon, discussions expanded to include real-life psychological concerns faced by society—faulty parenting, child abuse, substance addiction, suicide, and many other deeply troubling issues. At that time, Kerala stood as the state with the highest suicide rate, a reality that weighed heavily on all of us.
One day, a member asked a question that changed everything: “Why can’t we do something to prevent suicide?” That question became the turning point.
From there, we launched a free online counselling platform, driven purely by compassion. Around 60 psychologists volunteered their services—day and night, without expectation or reward. These volunteers came not only from India, but also from abroad. Anyone who could communicate in Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, or English could reach out to us through WhatsApp.
When a person in need contacted us, the message was shared in our sub-group, “I Am Here for You.”A psychologist who was available at that moment would step forward, and the client would be gently allotted for counselling. So far, more than 325 individuals from different parts of the world have received counselling through this initiative.
Confidentiality was always sacred. Psychologists discussed cases with me or with senior psychologist Mrs. Vrinda Sankar only for guidance, never revealing the identity of the client. Case details were submitted through a Google Form to our office, recorded only with a number to protect anonymity. Even clients were never required to disclose their name or personal identity.
Many who received counselling later sent voice messages expressing their gratitude. Hearing their joyful voices—knowing that they found hope again, that they chose life—has been the greatest reward for me and for the entire team.
The true backbone of this free counselling programme, “I Am Here for You,” is those 60 psychologists—who offered their time, energy, and compassion unconditionally to emotionally distressed souls who had nowhere else to turn.
That spirit of selfless service is, and always will be, the heart of I Mind The Mind.
Dr. Nelson Kattikat Joseph
Founder of I Mind The Mind Trust
Registered, charitable trust
Registration number : 493/IV/25
Trivandrum, Kerala, India.
( IM International Foundation)
Contact:
Email.
imtm4u@gmail.com
Phone.+919495045230( WhatsApp message only)
IMTM (I Mind The Mind)
A free online counselling service
Contact us via WhatsApp message:
Adv. Vrinda Sankar
Senior Psychologist & Advocate, IMTM
+91 62354 89007
Dr. Nelson Kattikat
Psychiatrist, Hypnotherapist
+91 94950 4530
whisperer 