Founder -
Dr Ashupriya Dutt
Ms. Ashupriya, a Clinical Psychologist by profession, serves as the Head of CAPS Mental Health Foundation. A pioneer in clinical psychological therapies and counselling, she brings over 16 years of rich professional experience in the field of mental health, psychological intervention, career guidance, and life skills counselling. Her work has been widely appreciated for its depth, compassion, and practical impact on individuals, families, educational institutions, and organizations.
Known for her systematic and solution-oriented approach, Ms. Ashupriya possesses exceptional expertise in handling complex emotional and psychological concerns. Her humane attitude, empathy, and strong therapeutic skills enable her to establish trust and confidence with individuals facing emotional and behavioural challenges. Her core areas of expertise include serious mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), suicidal tendencies, and drug addiction.
In recent years, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic, she has been extensively engaged in counselling and rehabilitation support for substance abuse cases, especially among teenagers and young adults. Ms. Ashupriya has also gained recognition for her work in educational and youth mental health programme. She has worked with several prestigious institutions, including Lawrence School Sanawar, Auckland House Shimla, Army Public School Dagshai, Delhi Public School, and Sacred Heart Chandigarh.
She has been invited by numerous reputed schools across Shimla, Dehradun, Mussoorie, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, and Chandigarh to conduct counselling sessions, student wellness programme, parent orientations, and life skills workshops. Her contribution toward community mental wellness also extends to the armed forces fraternity. She has conducted stress management and life skills workshops for AFFWA (Air Force Families Welfare Association) and AWWA (Army Women’s Welfare Association), focusing on emotional resilience, family well-being, and coping strategies.
In the corporate and institutional sector, Ms. Ashupriya has delivered training workshops and mental wellness programme for leading organizations, including Nestlé India Limited, Samsung, Maruti, and MGSIPA Chandigarh. Apart from therapeutic practice and training, she has also shared her expert opinions on behavioural and relationship issues through various radio and television platforms.
She is a well-sought-after name in the local media whenever serious mental health or psychological issues arise, frequently contributing her professional insights and expert opinions on matters concerning emotional well-being, behavioural challenges, youth mental health, addiction, and social stressors. Through her continued dedication and professional excellence, Ms. Ashupriya remains committed to strengthening mental health awareness, emotional well-being, and psychological resilience across society.
Rajdavinder Johal (Director)
Director of CAPS Mental Health, a non-governmental organization dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and community well-being. With a strong academic background in education and 18 years of extensive experience working with students at Army Public School, she recognized the growing need for mental health awareness and support, particularly among young people. Driven by a deep commitment to social welfare, she has played a pivotal role in conceptualizing and implementing impactful mental health programme across schools, police departments, and community platforms. Her key areas of focus include stress management, emotional resilience, substance abuse prevention, and the promotion of overall psychological well-being. She is deeply empathetic toward parents whose teenagers struggle with drug addiction and mental health challenges, and she actively works to provide guidance, awareness, and emotional support to affected families. Rajdavinder Kaur Johal firmly believes in the vision of “Healthy Minds, Healthy Nation” and continues to empower individuals by providing them with the knowledge, awareness, and tools necessary to lead balanced, healthy, and fulfilling lives.
Dr Aastha Sharma (Chief Adviser - Mental Health Projects)
Dr. Aastha Sharma is a mental health professional with over 14 years of experience. She worked as an assistant professor at MCM DAV College for Women in Chandigarh, India, where she taught psychology to undergraduate and postgraduate students. She then joined Roundglass Pvt. Ltd., a U.S.-based healthcare company, as a senior psychologist, where she worked with various mental health projects. She worked in the employee wellbeing programs and also student wellbeing and mentorship programs, where she provided individual as well as group sessions.
As part of her academic endeavor, she completed her doctorate in mental health among adolescents from the Department of Psychology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India. She has written several research papers for renowned international research journals and has presented her research at several international conferences.
She continued her professional journey when she moved to Canada and worked as a crisis intervention specialist with the Surrey Women’s Centre and outreach programs with the YWCA, which work primarily with victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Currently she is working as a child intervention practitioner with the Ministry of Child and Family Services, Govt. of Alberta. Her role encompasses conducting investigations related to child abuse, sexual trafficking and assaults, and other protection concerns. She uses a trauma-informed approach and signs of safety in her practice. She works closely with the judicial system, police, hospitals, and schools to ensure that children remain safe in the communities. She also extends other supports like safety planning, community resources like therapy and counseling, etc. to the families based on their needs.
She believes that mental health is the biggest epidemic of our times, and her passion is to continue working on making therapy and counseling less intimidating and more accessible to people who need it.
Ravi Sharma (State Lead -School Mental Health Projects, Himachal Pradesh)
With a distinguished career spanning 28 years, Mr. Ravi Sharma is a seasoned educator at Army Public School, Dagshai. A native of Kasauli, he has also served as a CBSE trainer for over a decade, conducting capacity-building workshops and subject-training programmes across multiple states. An accomplished quiz master and former journalist with Divya Himachal, he has reported from the Kasauli region and remains closely connected with the local community. His extensive experience of working with children and adolescents has given him a strong understanding of the adolescent mindset and the evolving mental health challenges faced by young people today. With his deep experience in education, teacher training, and working closely with schools and young people, he will be coordinating CAPS Mental Health Foundation’s school mental health projects across Himachal Pradesh, facilitating collaboration with schools and supporting the implementation of mental health awareness and wellbeing initiatives. He strongly advocates the need for focused mental health awareness, early support, and meaningful interventions for children and adolescents. In recognition of his contributions to education and social service, he was honoured with the Nation Builder Award by the Rotary Club.
Advisory Members
Ibneet Kapoor
Ibneet Kapoor brings over 12 years of experience in the field of mental health and addictions.
Currently working in Ontario, Canada, Ibneet supports youth and adults experiencing concurrent
mental health and substance use disorders. She specializes in anxiety and stress management,
anger management, harm reduction, depressive disorders, and grief support.
She also has extensive experience working with neurodivergent children, including those with
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). She helps
children develop emotional regulation, social skills, self-esteem, and academic success while
collaborating closely with their families and educators to provide comprehensive support.
Ibneet believes that every individual has the capacity for resilience and healing. She is committed to
empowering her clients with practical tools, enhanced self-awareness, and the confidence to
navigate life's challenges while creating a balanced, meaningful, and fulfilling life.