MyCounsellor Online is more than an app – it's a commitment to making mental wellness accessible, affordable, and stigma-free for every young person in India.
In 2017, someone stood on the 19th floor of an unfinished building. Darkness had closed in. Hope felt distant, unreachable.
Then a phone rang. A simple conversation. A voice that listened without judgment. That moment – that one connection – pulled them back from the edge.
That person survived. And in that survival, found a purpose: to build the mental wellness ecosystem they wished had existed. Not just for themselves, but for every young person in India who feels alone in their struggle.
MyCounsellor Online was born from that moment, during the walk down the 19 floors – a determined commitment that no care-seeker should face their darkest hour without access to compassionate, professional support.
India has over 180–245 million students aged 13–22. They face unprecedented levels of academic pressure, family expectations, social comparison, and uncertainty about their futures. Stress, anxiety, and distress have become the norm, not the exception.
Yet despite this widespread need, only around 10% of students who need mental wellness support actually reach a professional. The barriers are real: cost, stigma, lack of awareness, and a severe shortage of accessible, youth-friendly services.
This leaves a massive service gap – millions of young people struggling in silence, without guidance, without support, without hope. The consequences are devastating: declining academic performance, deteriorating relationships, and in the worst cases, tragedy.
This is the crisis MyCounsellor Online was built to address. We're not waiting for the system to change – we're building a new one.
A graded, anonymous-first mental wellness ecosystem designed specifically for Indian students
MyCounsellor Online is built on a 6-tier graded care model that bridges the gap between free helplines and expensive traditional therapy. Students can start anonymously at affordable price points and progress to deeper care only when needed.
Our masked ID system ensures complete anonymity from the first interaction. Students don't need to share their name, school, or any identifying information unless they choose to. This removes the stigma barrier that prevents so many young people from seeking help.
We use a human-in-the-loop framework – technology enables access and affordability, but every interaction is guided by trained professionals. From AI-assisted chat responders to licensed therapists, we maintain clinical rigour while keeping costs manageable for students.
Instant support from trained chat responders for immediate concerns
Speak with counselors over phone for deeper connection
Supervised sessions with psychology graduates and trainees
Specialists for specific needs (trauma, addiction, etc.)
Immediate intervention and referral for urgent situations
Start without sharing identity
Student-friendly pricing tiers
Supervised by licensed professionals
The values that guide every decision we make
Mental wellness support shouldn't depend on where you live or how much money you have. We're building infrastructure that reaches tier-2 and tier-3 cities, small towns, and rural areas, with pricing tiers that work for every student's budget.
Stigma is the biggest barrier to seeking help. Our masked ID system lets students reach out without fear of judgment, family discovery, or social consequences. They control when and if they ever reveal their identity.
Every responder is trained and supervised by licensed clinical professionals. We work with top mental health experts, crisis-intervention trainers, and regulatory advisors to ensure ethical, evidence-based care at every tier.
AI and technology help us scale access and reduce costs, but we never replace the human connection. Every interaction is guided by trained professionals who bring empathy, expertise, and genuine care to each conversation.
This isn't a startup racing for exits. We're building sustainable infrastructure for mental wellness that will serve students for decades. Patient capital, careful scaling, and deep partnerships take priority over viral growth.
MyCounsellor Online is founded by an experienced technopreneur with over 25 years of building and scaling technology businesses. Having led previous ventures through growth, transformation, and impact, they understand what it takes to build sustainable systems that serve real human needs.
But this venture is different. It's personal.
Mental wellness challenges have touched their close circles deeply. They've seen firsthand how stigma, cost, and lack of access prevent young people from getting help. They've witnessed the preventable pain that comes from a broken system. And they've experienced the life-saving power of human connection in the darkest moments.
This isn't an investor pitch or a market opportunity. This is a commitment to building the infrastructure that could have saved someone they care about – and will save countless others.
The work is guided by a team of top clinical experts, crisis-intervention trainers, regulatory advisors, and mental health professionals who share this vision. Together, we're building something that matters – slowly, carefully, and with deep respect for the lives we're privileged to serve.
We're starting with students aged 13–22 because that's where the need is most acute and where early intervention can make the biggest difference. But this is just the beginning.
Over the next few years, we'll build deep partnerships with schools, colleges, and educational institutions across India. We're creating pathways for institutional support while protecting individual student anonymity – a delicate balance that requires trust, time, and careful relationship-building.
From there, we'll gradually expand into a broader, connected mental wellness ecosystem – serving not just students but families, young professionals, and communities across India. This is a long-term vision. We're building infrastructure for generations, not quarters.
Building core platform, training responders, onboarding therapists, establishing quality protocols
Partner with schools and colleges, pilot programs, scale across tier-2 and tier-3 cities
Expand beyond students, build family support systems, integrate with broader mental wellness infrastructure
If you care about student mental wellness in India, we need you. Whether you're a student seeking help, a professional wanting to contribute, or an institution ready to partner – there's a place for you in this movement.
If you're struggling, reach out. You're not alone, and help is available right now.
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"Every student deserves access to compassionate mental wellness support. Together, we're making that a reality in India."