Dr. Moumita Nandy: Advancing Clinical Psychology, Mental Health and Human Wellbeing

Dr. Moumita Nandy, a clinical psychologist, researcher, entrepreneur, mental health advocate, and Founder and Director of Haus of Calm, is being honoured with the Rashtra Seva Puraskar in the category of Clinical Psychology for her sustained contribution to psychological care, psycho-oncology, mental health awareness, research, and community wellbeing. With more than 15 years of professional experience, Dr. Nandy has developed a multidisciplinary career that combines clinical practice with research, education, advocacy, and innovative approaches to mental health and human wellbeing.

Her professional journey is supported by extensive academic and specialist training. She holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam University, Indore, a Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Pune University, and an M.Phil in Psycho-Oncology from the Cancer Institute, Chennai. She has also completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at IIT Delhi, along with advanced training in Forensic Psychology and Criminal Profiling and Integrated Clinical Hypnotherapy. Her additional certifications include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Expressive Therapy, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, Mindfulness, and Emotional Freedom Techniques.

Dr. Nandy’s clinical work has extended across diverse psychological and psychosocial concerns. As a Clinical Psychologist and Narrative Therapist, she has worked with individuals and families while also contributing to mental health education and awareness. Her professional experience includes associations with institutions and

organisations such as Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, the Cancer Institute in Chennai, Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata, Serenity Psychiatric Care, Mind Vriksha Psychiatry Clinic, Door of Hope, Intro Spectrum Psychological Care, and Reach Out for Life Foundation, Pune.

Psycho-oncology has been an especially important area of her professional and research journey. Her work has explored the psychological and emotional dimensions of cancer care and the importance of communication between healthcare professionals and patients. She has participated in studies concerning depression, substance abuse, and psycho-oncology at the Cancer Institute, Chennai, and Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata.

One of her documented research contributions is the paper titled “Impact of Oncologists’ Communication Skills on the Cancer Patients,” published in Phalanx: A Quarterly Review for Continuing Debate in 2023. The research examined the importance of communication in cancer care, particularly in relation to patients’ understanding of treatment, treatment adherence, satisfaction, emotional wellbeing, and shared decision-making. The study involved 160 questionnaires collected from three cancer treatment facilities. Its findings and discussion underline the importance of clear, compassionate communication in a healthcare environment where patients may experience fear, uncertainty, anxiety, and emotional distress.

Her broader research interests have included oncologists’ perspectives on barriers to cancer pain management, communication between oncologists and patients, psychosocial communication, patient-physician communication in oncology care, and community-linked care. These areas demonstrate her interest in looking beyond clinical symptoms to understand the emotional, social, and communicative dimensions of healthcare.

Dr. Nandy’s professional perspective has also been shaped by personal experience. As a cancer survivor who has undergone treatment herself, her understanding of psycho-oncology carries an important lived dimension. Despite significant health challenges, she has continued to contribute to her professional work and mental health advocacy. Her experience has strengthened her commitment to psychological support, compassionate communication, and the emotional wellbeing of people navigating serious illness.

Alongside clinical practice and research, Dr. Nandy has been actively involved in mental health advocacy. She has contributed to initiatives including the National Helpline for the Transgender Community, Netram, and projects associated with the Ministry of Social Empowerment. Such involvement reflects her commitment to expanding psychological support to communities that may encounter stigma, discrimination, social barriers, or limited access to appropriate mental healthcare.

Her work in men’s mental health is another important dimension of her professional contribution. She is associated with the Men’s Mental Health Society – Best for Him as a Senior Psychologist, contributing to efforts aimed at encouraging greater awareness and openness around men’s psychological wellbeing. She has also conducted mental health workshops for organisations such as Voiceless India, extending her advocacy work into community settings.

Dr. Nandy has contributed to professional education as well. She has served as Visiting Faculty for Expressive Arts Therapy at VIMHANS, sharing her knowledge and experience with learners and professionals. Her interest in expressive therapy reflects her broader approach to psychological care, where therapeutic interventions can incorporate creativity, emotional expression, reflection, and individual experience.

Her vision for mental healthcare is further expressed through Haus of Calm, the wellbeing and mental health initiative she founded. Through this platform, she has worked toward promoting psychological wellness, preventive mental healthcare, emotional literacy, mindfulness, trauma-informed care, and accessible therapeutic support. Her work particularly addresses areas such as youth mental health, women’s wellbeing, workplace emotional health, and capacity-building for mental health professionals.

An important concept emerging from Dr. Nandy’s work is “Human Sustainability,” which brings together mental health, preventive healthcare, organizational wellbeing, longevity, and public policy. The concept reflects her belief that human wellbeing must be considered an essential part of sustainable social development. Psychological health, in her approach, is not simply an individual concern but something that influences families, workplaces, communities, healthcare systems, and society as a whole.

This broader vision has led her to advocate for greater attention to workplace wellbeing, preventive mental healthcare, social equity, health diplomacy, and culturally responsive psychological services. She supports the development of mental health systems that are accessible, inclusive, and sensitive to the diverse social and cultural contexts in which people live.

Her professional recognition includes the Business World (BW) Award under the title “Wellbeing 40 Under 40,” reflecting her contribution to the field of wellbeing. She is also working on a book focused on destigmatizing therapy and mental health, continuing her effort to encourage more open and informed conversations around psychological care.

Dr. Nandy’s contribution to clinical psychology is particularly notable for the way she connects professional psychological practice with the wider realities of people’s lives. Her work recognizes that mental health cannot be separated from physical health, family circumstances, social relationships, workplace environments, illness, identity, and access to support. This perspective has informed her clinical practice as well as her advocacy, research, teaching, and community initiatives.

Her work in psycho-oncology is especially significant in this context. Cancer treatment can involve not only physical challenges but also fear, uncertainty, changes in identity, concerns about treatment outcomes, emotional distress, and difficulties in communicating with healthcare providers. Dr. Nandy’s academic and professional engagement with these issues has focused attention on the psychological needs of cancer patients and on the role that communication can play in improving the overall care experience.

Her research paper, “Impact of Oncologists’ Communication Skills on the Cancer Patients,” published in Phalanx: A Quarterly Review for Continuing Debate in 2023, provides a concrete example of this commitment. The study examined communication between oncologists and cancer patients in relation to treatment understanding, treatment adherence, satisfaction, emotional wellbeing, and shared decision-making. It was based on 160 questionnaires collected from three cancer treatment facilities between April and June 2020. The research emphasizes that effective communication can help patients better understand their treatment and express their concerns while also supporting trust and emotional security during a difficult period of care.

The subject of this research also connects closely with Dr. Nandy’s wider academic interests. Her research has addressed oncologists’ views on barriers to cancer pain management, the impact of communication skills on cancer patients, patients’ perspectives on psychosocial communication, improvement of communication in cancer care, and comparisons of perceptions among oncologists and other groups regarding community-linked care. These areas demonstrate a sustained interest in improving the human side of healthcare and ensuring that patients are treated as active participants in their own care.

Dr. Nandy’s own experience as a cancer survivor gives an additional personal dimension to her work in psycho-oncology. Having gone through treatment herself, she has a direct understanding of the emotional and practical challenges that can accompany serious illness. Even while dealing with her own health concerns, she has continued to contribute to her professional responsibilities and mental health work. Her experience has reinforced her commitment to compassionate care and to the importance of psychological support for people navigating illness and recovery.

Beyond psycho-oncology, Dr. Nandy has worked across a broad range of psychological concerns and populations. Her experience includes clinical practice, narrative therapy, anger-management treatment, motivational interventions, expressive therapy, and mental health awareness. Her training in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy, mindfulness, expressive approaches, and integrated clinical hypnotherapy has provided her with a varied professional toolkit for addressing different psychological and emotional needs.

Her work as a Narrative Therapist, including mentorship under David Epston, reflects an approach that gives importance to the individual’s personal story, experiences, values, and understanding of self. This complements her wider professional philosophy of culturally sensitive and person-centred psychological care. Rather than treating mental health concerns in isolation, her work seeks to understand the circumstances and narratives surrounding the individual.

Dr. Nandy’s clinical and professional exposure across institutions including Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, the Cancer Institute in Chennai, Tata Medical Centre in Kolkata, Serenity Psychiatric Care, Mind Vriksha Psychiatry Clinic, Door of Hope, Intro Spectrum Psychological Care, and Reach Out for Life Foundation, Pune, has contributed to her understanding of varied healthcare and community settings. These associations have given her experience with multidisciplinary environments and with the psychosocial dimensions of healthcare.

Her professional journey has also included research participation involving depression and substance abuse, in addition to psycho-oncology. Such work reflects the breadth of her interest in psychological wellbeing and the importance of evidence-based approaches to mental healthcare. Through research and clinical practice, she has continued to explore how psychological interventions and better communication can contribute to improved outcomes and more humane care.

Education and professional capacity-building form another part of her contribution. As Visiting Faculty for Expressive Arts Therapy at VIMHANS, Dr. Nandy has shared her knowledge with students and professionals. Her engagement with expressive approaches highlights the role of creativity and emotional expression in psychological work and demonstrates her interest in expanding the range of tools available to mental health professionals.

Her contribution to mental health advocacy extends beyond formal clinical settings. Dr. Nandy has been involved with the National Helpline for the Transgender Community, Netram, and projects associated with the Ministry of Social Empowerment. These engagements reflect her commitment to extending psychosocial support to communities that may face stigma, exclusion, social vulnerability, or barriers to accessing appropriate services.

She has also contributed to men’s mental health through her association with the Men’s Mental Health Society – Best for Him, where she serves as a Senior Psychologist. Her work in this area contributes to broader efforts to encourage men to discuss emotional difficulties and seek professional support when needed. Her workshops and mental health advocacy initiatives, including work with Voiceless India, further demonstrate her willingness to take psychological awareness beyond conventional clinical spaces and into community settings.

At the centre of her entrepreneurial and professional vision is Haus of Calm, the wellbeing and mental health initiative founded by Dr. Nandy. The platform represents her effort to bring together psychological care, preventive mental health programming, emotional literacy, mindfulness, trauma-informed approaches, and wellbeing education. Its focus includes youth mental health, women’s wellbeing, workplace emotional health, and capacity-building for mental health professionals.

The philosophy behind Haus of Calm reflects a preventive approach to mental healthcare. Dr. Nandy’s work emphasizes that psychological wellbeing should not receive attention only after an individual reaches a point of crisis. Awareness, emotional education, early intervention, resilience-building, and accessible psychological support can help individuals address difficulties before they become more severe. This approach is particularly relevant in a society where stigma and misconceptions can still prevent people from seeking help.

Her concept of “Human Sustainability” further expands this philosophy. The concept integrates mental health, preventive healthcare, organizational wellbeing, longevity, and public policy in an effort to understand wellbeing at both individual and societal levels. It proposes that sustainable development should consider the sustainability of human wellbeing itself. Healthy communities require not only physical infrastructure and economic opportunity but also psychologically healthy individuals, supportive workplaces, accessible healthcare, and policies that recognize emotional wellbeing as a public priority.

This perspective also informs Dr. Nandy’s interest in organizational wellbeing. Modern workplaces can be sources of professional growth and social connection, but they can also expose people to stress, burnout, uncertainty, interpersonal difficulties, and emotional exhaustion. By bringing psychological wellbeing into organizational conversations, her work encourages a broader understanding of employee health and the relationship between wellbeing and sustainable professional environments.

Dr. Nandy’s vision extends to social equity and health diplomacy as well. She advocates for collaboration, cross-border dialogue, psychosocial support within public health systems, and culturally adaptive approaches to mental healthcare. Her perspective recognizes that psychological care must be responsive to the social and cultural realities of the communities it serves. Accessibility, inclusion, dignity, and cultural sensitivity are therefore central to her understanding of meaningful mental health services.

Another continuing objective of Dr. Nandy’s work is the destigmatization of therapy. She is currently working on a book focused on therapy and mental health, with the intention of encouraging more informed and open discussion about psychological care. Her advocacy challenges the idea that therapy should be considered only in extreme circumstances. Instead, she promotes psychological support as a legitimate component of overall wellbeing, resilience, self-understanding, and healthy functioning.

The combination of clinical experience, academic research, psycho-oncology, mental health advocacy, professional education, community engagement, and entrepreneurship gives Dr. Nandy’s work a broad social dimension. Her contribution is not confined to one form of psychological intervention or one population. It spans patients, families, young people, women, men, professionals, communities, and people navigating serious illness or social vulnerability.

The Rashtra Seva Puraskar in Clinical Psychology recognizes the breadth and continuity of Dr. Moumita Nandy’s contribution. Her work encompasses clinical psychology, psycho-oncology, research, professional education, mental health advocacy, community initiatives, and the development of new frameworks for wellbeing. Rather than limiting psychological care to treatment after difficulties arise, she promotes prevention, awareness, resilience, emotional literacy, and early support.

Dr. Nandy’s career demonstrates how clinical psychology can serve both individual and public wellbeing. Through her clinical experience, research, advocacy, teaching, and work at Haus of Calm, she continues to contribute to a more compassionate and accessible approach to mental healthcare. Her journey, including her own experience as a cancer survivor, further reflects resilience and a sustained commitment to helping others navigate psychological and emotional challenges.

The Rashtra Seva Puraskar therefore recognizes not only Dr. Moumita Nandy’s professional credentials but also her continuing commitment to service. Her contributions to clinical psychology and psycho-oncology, combined with her efforts to reduce stigma and promote preventive mental healthcare, make her a significant contributor to the evolving landscape of psychological wellbeing in India.