Today we are overjoyed to announce the formation of Kalda’s first advisory group; to provide strategic guidance and support around Kalda’s growth as the world’s first mental wellbeing app for the LGBTQIA+ community. The group consists of experts across therapy, technology, diversity & inclusion, and academia.
Mental health has been highlighted significantly throughout the pandemic and access to mental health support has been strained in the ongoing fight against COVID-19. The current wait list for NHS mental health care stands at over 1.6m, including 374,000 under-18s. NHS England is even understood to view the figure as high as 8m, a staggering number of people who are still waiting to access care.
At Kalda we believe everyone in our community deserves access to relevant mental health support and a supportive community is key to long lasting mental health. People in our community are looking for relevant mental health support that speaks to their lived experience and are looking to Kalda for more services.
Our advisory group will help steer the development of Kalda’s services and value to our community. The group brings together the most accomplished leaders from across sectors to offer expertise, leadership, and a unique understanding of the transformational mental health potential that Kalda has to offer.
Introducing Kalda’s Advisory Group:
Chris Grant (they/them)
Chris is a non-binary trans accredited Psychotherapist, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant. They are the Founder of The Queer Therapist, a UK based online accredited therapy service for queer, neurodiverse and gender affirming therapy. They are committed to ‘queering’ healthcare practices and challenging stigma and shame around gender diversity.
Ora Rammala (she/her)
Ora is a zealous advocate of anti racism and LGBTQIA+ rights, and works as a diversity and inclusion consultant. Ora’s work in the world of agency recruitment highlighted the need for the way industries include women of colour. Her work includes organising and hosting events to empower different WOC groups on how the industry can work for them.
Christian Tooley (he/him)
Christian is a queer entrepreneur, innovation & strategy consultant. His work founding i³ investing that helps LGBTQ+ founders and conscious investors connect. His work includes driving awareness for BAME and mental health communities, to support policy submissions on progressive LGBTQ+ legislation.
Anick Soni (he/him)
Anick Soni is an intersex activist, Creative Consultant, Presenter and Researcher who focuses on the rights of children, human rights and mental health. He is a co-founding Trustee of the charity iCONUK (Interconnected UK), which provides guidance and support for intersex people, those born with variations of sex characteristics/DSD and their loved ones.
Mathijs Lucassen (he/him)
Mathijs is a senior lecturer at The Open University and an honorary academic in psychological medicine at the University of Auckland. His research includes work designed to enhance the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ young people, including the computerised CBT video game SPARX and the PRIDE Project.
