Hello Mumbai National DeskÂ
World MSME Day 2026 | Exclusive Interview with Agrim Agarwal Foundation – Promoting Mental Health for a Stronger MSME Ecosystem
On the occasion of World MSME Day 2026, Hello Mumbai News Editor-in-Chief Aleem Shaikh had an exclusive conversation with
Sangita Agarwal, founder of the Agrim Agarwal Foundation , an organization dedicated to promoting mental health and emotional well-being. The discussion highlighted the growing importance of mental wellness in the MSME sector, emphasizing that resilient entrepreneurs and healthy workplaces are essential for sustainable business growth. The Foundation shared its insights on reducing mental health stigma, building supportive work environments, and encouraging MSMEs to prioritize employee well-being as a key driver of productivity, innovation, and long-term success.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
Could you introduce yourself for our readers and brief About your ngo.
How it helps to common people
Sangita Agarwal
I’m Sangita Agarwal, founder of the Agrim Agarwal Foundation, a Mumbai based NGO my son Rohit and I started to address mental health and substance abuse in society. We offer counselling, therapy, and holistic support to help people heal in mind, body, and soul. Our mission is simple — accessible, affordable, stigma-free mental health care for everyone.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
Mental health is becoming a crucial issue in today’s fast-paced business environment. How is the Agrim Agarwal Foundation addressing mental health challenges among entrepreneurs and MSME professionals?
Sangita Agarwal
We provide general counselling, CBT, REBT, NLP, healing therapies, and mentoring, both online and in person, so anyone in Mumbai or across India can reach out. People coming to us with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, addiction, or family issues get a safe space and a real support system, regardless of their financial background.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
Why is mental well-being essential for MSME owners, startup founders, and employees in building sustainable businesses?
Sangita Agarwal
Running a business is isolating and entrepreneurs rarely admit they’re struggling. Through our counselling and mentoring services, we give business owners and employees a confidential space to talk about stress, burnout, and self-doubt before it becomes something bigger.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
Why is mental well-being essential for MSME owners, startup founders, and employees in building sustainable businesses?
Sangita Agarwal
A business is only as strong as the person running it. If a founder or owner is mentally exhausted, decision-making, relationships, and productivity all suffer — so mental wellness isn’t separate from business growth, it’s the foundation of it
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
What are the most common mental health concerns you have observed among entrepreneurs and working professionals?
Sangita Agarwal
We see a lot of anxiety, chronic stress, burnout, and feelings of isolation — many carry the pressure of “everything depends on me” alone, and it often shows up as sleeplessness, irritability, or complete withdrawal.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
How can MSMEs create mentally healthy workplaces despite limited financial and human resources?
Sangita Agarwal
It doesn’t need a big budget — just starts with leaders being willing to talk openly about mental health, checking in on people genuinely, and creating an environment where asking for help isn’t seen as weakness.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
What role do awareness, counselling, and emotional support play in improving productivity and employee retention?
Sangita Agarwal
When people feel heard and supported, they stay longer and perform better — awareness reduces stigma, counselling gives them tools to cope, and emotional support tells them they’re not alone. All three directly feed into productivity and retention. Also you become an office that is more than just employment. Extend our service as an affiliate to the families and you will be the best employer in the country.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
How is your foundation collaborating with educational institutions, corporates, NGOs, or government bodies to promote mental wellness?
Sangita Agarwal
We work with our network of counsellors and psychologists, and we’re open to and actively building partnerships with corporates, educational institutions, and government bodies so mental wellness programs can reach more people, especially the youth. This works best because, the company gets support services and the foundation gets funds to help those who cannot afford mental health, like Adivasi children we often work with in Wada, just over 50+km from Mumbai.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
Could you share a success story where your foundation made a meaningful impact on an individual’s life or an organization?
Sangita Agarwal
One that stays with me is a young entrepreneur who came to us completely burnt out, ready to shut down his business. Through consistent counselling sessions, he found his footing again — not just professionally, but as a person who could finally ask for help without shame.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
What policies or initiatives would you recommend to the Government of India to strengthen mental health support for MSMEs and startups?
Sangita Agarwal
I’d love to see mental health support built into MSME schemes directly — subsidised counselling access, workplace mental health as part of compliance norms, and more funding for NGOs like ours doing this ground-level work. Maybe make a counselling partner compulsory. Also, an observation, that some people with severe mental health issues are denied insurance, i would like it to be rectified.
Currently from our end we have started a panel based summit comprising of expert led discussion to bring about change.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
What advice would you give to entrepreneurs who are silently struggling with stress, burnout, anxiety, or depression?
Sangita Agarwal
Please don’t carry it alone — struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing, it means you’re human. Talk to someone, even just once; that one conversation can change everything. Come to AAF, that way you have an outlet that is confidential.
Hello Mumbai NewsÂ
On the occasion of World MSME Day, what is your message to India’s entrepreneurs, startup founders, and young business leaders about prioritizing mental health alongside business growth?
Sangita Agarwal
To every entrepreneur and young founder your business will only grow as far as you’re able to sustain yourself, so protect your mind the same way you protect your business. Growth and well-being must go hand in hand, not one at the cost of the other.
For More Details visit Below Website :Â
Website http://www.agrimagarwalfoundation.com
https://www.instagram.com/agrimagarwalfoundation?igsh=MXdyOTZobTNzMHJ5cg==
