Aakriti Joanna started Maple Jar “to help people reach out and take their first step towards their mental health.” Having studied psychology since high school, Aakriti has worked as a therapist with various organisations in education and mental health.
“Maple Jar is very special to me. Not because it’s something I started but because I am seeing the kind of change it is making. India needs consistent dialogue about mental health and it needs to be understood in its true sense, which I feel we still are a long way from achieving,” she points out.
Different modes
Maple Jar is a personal online counselling platform run by a team of professional counsellors. They offer counselling through the modes of chat, call, and video, based on one’s preference and comfort. Their website, maplejar.in, lets you leave your number. Once you’ve done that, the counsellors get in touch with you directly. If that doesn’t feel like the best option for some, they can always just send them an email at maplejar@maplejar.in.
According to Aakriti, “Apart from counselling, we also facilitate open dialogue about mental health and its importance in our lives. We do this by encouraging you to take action towards creating a change in your everyday life, starting with small steps. We have a monthly feature called ‘Maple Jar Stories’ where people speak openly about their journey battling mental health issues. This has encouraged a lot of people to come forward and seek help.”
About why she opted for her venture (that is essentially about being physically available for clients) to operate online, Aakriti says: “Today, we are in a time where progressively more people are becoming digitally comfortable and are spending a lot of time connected to different online mediums of communication.
Bridging the gap
“This is the space where I felt that Maple Jar could help bridge the gap between people who need counselling and someone to guide them while also giving them the chance to sidestep the public stigma. I was a little worried about how open people would feel about going completely online, but the response has been overwhelming.”
While it’s only been a few months since the inception of Maple Jar, the therapist-entrepreneur says: “I won’t say it’s been easy, but it has been both exciting and challenging.
“Being a psychologist is what I’m familiar with, but I’m learning a lot about running a business too. For me personally, I’m still learning to manage my time well and prioritise. I now realise how important every hour of the day is!”
In terms of the future, Aakriti says: “Mental health in India is not getting the attention it deserves. We’re determined to help fill the void that exists, with solutions for mental health. This also means getting the word out so we can help more people and encourage dialogue on the subject.”
This column features those who choose to veer off the beaten track.
