Misha Akbar’s journey has always been about resilience and finding her own voice. She grew up moving a lot—11 schools across the Middle East and India—so adapting to new places and people became second nature. But behind that constant change, she was also dealing with anxiety and depression, while cultural taboos around mental health made it hard to talk about what she was going through.

During the pandemic, Misha finally connected with a therapist who really understood her cultural background. For the first time, she felt truly heard—and that changed everything. Out of that experience, she started Sama Health, an online platform built to give South Asians in the Middle East the kind of culturally relevant mental health support she wishes she’d had growing up. For Misha, it’s all about making sure no one has to feel as alone in their struggles as she once did.

Key Takeaways

• Culturally relevant therapy offers true validation and understanding for diverse lived experiences.
• Geographical depression can have a profound and lasting impact of relocating to new countries.
• Stigma significantly prevents South Asian men from openly discussing their mental health struggles.
• Founders face unique mental health challenges, often stemming from fears of failure and financial dependence.
• Trusting your gut and asking informed questions are crucial when choosing the right therapist.

Resources

• Sama Health:https://samahealth.life 
• Sama Health on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sama_health/

Misha Akbar on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mishakbar/

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