Nita Batta: Paving the Way for Mental Health Advocacy in the Workplace

In the fast-paced and competitive world of business, there is a growing awareness of the importance of employee well-being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in four people worldwide experience mental illness. In the United States alone, approximately 18.1% of adults experience mental illness each year. While companies have made strides in prioritizing employee well-being, barriers such as stigma, lack of resources, and inadequate support still prevent individuals from accessing the help they need. As a result, innovative approaches to mental health advocacy have emerged, and one individual leading the way is Nita Batta , founder and CEO of Nita Batta, Inc.   

Nita is revolutionizing mental health advocacy in the workplace. With a focus on building a more humane environment that values trust and performance, she is helping companies promote inclusivity, empower individuals and teams, and prioritize mental health and well-being in the workplace.   

A Personal Journey to Professional Passion   

Nita's personal background and upbringing have played a significant role in shaping her outlook and approach to mental health advocacy in the workplace. As the child of immigrant parents, she experienced the challenge of navigating and honoring dual identities and perspectives. Her academic training in social work at the University of Pennsylvania and her career in Program Organization and Development provided her with a macro-level understanding of the impact of systemic factors on individuals. However, Nita was always curious about the personal impact of her work and measured feedback with sensitivity.   

Through her experiences, Nita came to understand that personal and systemic impacts coexist, and each lens needs to be nurtured in a manner that supports the other. This understanding led her to focus on helping individuals achieve personal success, which ultimately grew into group facilitation in the workspace. Through this approach, Nita is able to inform leadership teams about how their initiatives impact the mental health of their company.     

Normalizing Mental Health in the Workplace   

Nita Batta, Inc. is an eponymous minority-owned corporation that aims to prioritize mental health by breaking down barriers and reducing the stigma around accessing mental health resources, with a particular focus on serving the South Asian Diaspora and other minority groups. The company's unique approach includes conducting deep needs assessments and creating safe and inclusive spaces for group facilitation.   

By empowering individuals and teams, Nita Batta , Inc. is helping companies promote inclusivity, trust, and psychological safety in the workplace, leading to higher performing teams and happier employees. "We are seeking greater equilibrium, the results of which are increased moderation and regulation, tolerance, and respect for diverse viewpoints," says Nita. "If a company wants to attract and retain talented people, we need to build a more humane environment that values trust and performance."   

The company specializes in working with diverse BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) populations, who are often underserved given the taboo and stigma around receiving mental health resources. One of the company's greatest achievements is helping create a space where people hold the psychological safety and permission to be appropriately bold. Through group facilitation, individuals have an opportunity to discuss their experiences with peers, show higher motivation to be change agents, and are able to hold each other accountable, while being stronger players in their respective teams.   

Self-care is the Key   

Nita encourages individuals struggling with mental health in the workplace to prioritize self-care by seeking out resources, as evident in her words, " Self-care is paramount, and if resources do not exist to help someone with their mental health in the workplace, an individual may need to seek out resources than can be onboarded in the company." She emphasizes the importance of seeking mental health help as others in the company may also be seeking support.   

Nita Batta, Inc. believes that everyone is a teacher and a student, and through this process of learning and collaboration, companies can become better equipped to support the mental health and well-being of their employees. Nita Batta, Inc. is paving the way for mental health advocacy in the workplace and is a company to watch in the years to come.