Virtue Mental: A Safe Space in the Midst of the Pandemic

For the very first issue of The Heart of Medicine, particularly one that is centered on COVID-19, I thought it would be fitting to interview Poonam Rahman, the founder and CEO of Virtue Mental, a nonprofit organization founded during the peak of the pandemic that works to provide mental health resources to POC and immigrant communities. Join me as I chat with Poonam about the impact of COVID-19 on mental health, the beginning and blossoming of Virtue Mental, and her inspirations behind creating such an invaluable resource for communities in need.

What inspired you to start Virtue Mental?

When I was younger, I remember getting bullied for my body image, my nationality, my name, and for other such factors and these experiences have had a traumatic impact on my mental health even to this day as a young adult. My experience with bullying was a significant motivating factor to launch Virtue Mental. Furthermore, during quarantine, I had the realization that many individuals had been wrestling with many mental health struggles as the pandemic had forced the world to shut down. Having this realization and reflecting upon the struggles and mental health-related challenges that many individuals had been undergoing was another motivating factor to launch Virtue Mental.

What is the mission of Virtue Mental, and what are some things your organization is doing to achieve that mission as you grow?

Virtue Mental strives to create spaces to encourage discussions of mental well-being through our monthly support groups. Every month, Virtue Mental hosts six different support groups focusing on different demographics of individuals, primarily focusing on minorities (AAPI, LGBTQ+, Latinx, South Asian, Women, and the general population). The support groups are facilitated by a certified mental health professional who encourages the discussion of various mental health topics such as healthy coping mechanisms, women's mental health issues, and the causes of depression and anxiety.

What was it like creating an organization and trying to bring it to the public’s eye during a pandemic? Do you think it would have been any easier starting it during more ordinary times, or harder?

It was very convenient starting Virtue Mental during the pandemic as everyone was at home and they were looking for opportunities to get involved in various initiatives. I believe it would have been more difficult starting Virtue Mental outside of the pandemic as individuals would have been occupied with other responsibilities.

Were there other mental health organizations that you had heard of before/worked with before that helped you create a framework for your organization?

We were inspired by an organization called the Trevor Project in particular because they focus immensely on providing mental health resources to the LGBTQ+ community. One of our initial support groups we created was the LGBTQ+ support group due to the inspiration we gained from the Trevor Project and their initiatives. We were also inspired by another organization called Nami due to their similarity in ideals and mission statements.

How did you go about starting this organization, and how did it become the nonprofit it is today?

During the pandemic, I realized that there are many individuals suffering from mental health illnesses which was the main motivating factor to start Virtue Mental. Through the high interest of students and individuals from around the world, Virtue Mental became an international nonprofit organization as we have 100+ interns and volunteers who assist us with support group creation, content creation, outreach and partnerships planning, and much more.

How does the creation and implementation of Virtue Mental tie in with your vision for your life as well as your academic and personal goals?

Mental health and psychology are one of the biggest inspirations to me and I am pursuing a degree in Psychology and Neuroscience. The creation of Virtue Mental has enhanced my passion for mental health and psychology as I was able to witness firsthand the impact therapy and support has on individuals from different backgrounds and walks of life.

How did your interests in mental health, particularly in mental health advocacy and support for underprivileged/POC groups, start? Describe those interests and why you believe they are important.

Ever since I was younger, I have always had a passion for community service and I have envisioned starting a nonprofit one day. Virtue Mental combines my interest for mental health and serving others in need through the services we provide. I believe that community service and serving others has a direct correlation with mental health as when you help others, you physically and mentally feel good.

How have you perceived the changes Covid-19 brought to people’s mental health, especially from your experience interacting with such a wide variety of healthcare professionals and patients of Virtue Mental?

We realized that mental health resources are lacking in general. Many mental health professionals have a high sliding scale for their services which are unaffordable at times. Through Virtue Mental, we aim to eliminate this gap and provide resources to individuals who are unable to afford it and match them with mental health professionals who identify as the same demographic as them to increase representation.

What are your tips for health and wellness during Covid-19? What sort of self-care and wellness activities did you engage in to de-stress?

Since most of us are still virtual, I would allot some time out of my day each day to call a friend or a loved one. I would also spend a lot of time with my family since this period was a rough time for all of us. Lastly, I also would create a schedule and a list of priorities for the day as this would prevent me from getting overwhelmed with all of my responsibilities. Self care is oftentimes something that is overlooked; within Virtue Mental we aim to not only provide much needed mental health services, but also emphasize the importance of self care and wellbeing.

Do you have any favorite mental health resources that you can recommend - either that you use or that have been recommended to you?

Some books that I recommend which have helped with my mental health are Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty and The Power of Vulnerability: Teachings of Authenticity, Connections and Courage by Brené Brown. Reading has allowed me to destress and nourish my mental health throughout the past couple years. Furthermore, some podcasts I recommend that have also helped to nourish my mental health are "The Happiness Lab" and "Throwing Shade." "The Happiness Lab" has my highest recommendation as it talks about what true happiness and fulfillment are.

Follow Virtue Mental on Instagram @virtuementalorg to get involved and stay updated.