Navigating Mental Wellness: An Interview with Krishna Veer Singh of LISSUN

An interview with Mr. Krishna Veer Singh, CEO & Co -Founder at LISSUN (Mental Health Platform)

In an era where mental health awareness is paramount, Mr. Krishna Veer Singh, CEO and Co-Founder of LISSUN, stands at the forefront of innovation.

His platform is dedicated to providing accessible mental health solutions, bridging the gap between technology and wellness.

Can you share the inspiration behind founding Lissun and what motivated you to focus on mental health?

Krishna Veer Singh: LISSUN was founded in 2021 by Tarun Gupta and myself, Krishna Veer Singh, driven by our shared personal experiences with mental health challenges and our desire to fill the glaring gaps we saw in the mental healthcare system.

We met while working at Uber and quickly bonded over our common values and ideologies. Both of us had faced notable mental health struggles—Tarun’s daughter was born extremely premature and spent three months in the NICU, causing severe anxiety for him and his wife, while my son was diagnosed with speech delay, which forced us to move cities and struggle to find adequate schools and therapists.

When we sought solutions, we found there was no clear, specialized support available to address our specific concerns.

This realization made us acutely aware of how alarming the situation was and how many others were going through similar struggles without the resources or space to address them.

 During the second wave of COVID-19, many of our close friends started opening up about their anxiety and stress, which prompted us to take action. We decided to create a solution that could help people feel heard and supported, naming it LISSUN.

We went on to research extensively, consulting with doctors and medical institutions to develop our platform.

Our vision is not just to create a business but to normalize the conversation around mental health. We wanted to establish a platform where individuals could talk about their challenges without feeling judged or unheard.

Today, LISSUN is a growing force, with over 75,000 lives impacted and more than 100,000 mental health sessions delivered, now serving 20+ cities across India.

Our mission to revolutionize mental healthcare continues, and we are determined to make LISSUN a household name, ensuring that mental health care is accessible, open, and a priority for all.

What challenges did you face in the early stages of Lissun, and how did you overcome them?

Krishna Veer Singh: In the early stages of LISSUN, we faced several challenges, both personal and operational. One of the key hurdles was addressing the stigma surrounding mental health in India. People were often hesitant to talk about their struggles or seek help due to the fear of being judged.

We had to work hard to create a platform that felt safe, welcoming, and non-judgmental. It required a lot of awareness-building campaigns, outreach, and empathy to break down these barriers. We had to convince people that mental health is just as important as physical health, and seeking support should be normalized.

Another major challenge was the lack of infrastructure and quality professionals. Mental health services in India were limited, and the demand for qualified therapists, counselors, and specialists was high.

We overcame this by building strong partnerships with trusted medical institutions, psychologists, and therapists to ensure that we had the right team in place to deliver quality care. Additionally, developing the tech infrastructure for our platform was no small feat.

Integrating digital tools, creating an intuitive user experience, and ensuring data privacy were all priorities. We had to be mindful of the technological gap in some parts of India, which meant offering both physical and digital solutions—a phygital approach that made mental healthcare more accessible.

Securing funding was also challenging, as many investors were skeptical about mental health in India. However, after launching and demonstrating the impact of our work, we were able to raise the necessary funds through our persistence and commitment to our mission.

This financial backing helped us scale and improve our services, allowing us to continue making a difference. Despite these challenges, our passion, resilience, and the support of our growing team have helped us continue our mission to normalize mental health conversations and provide accessible care to people across India.

How do you envision Lissun’s impact on mental health awareness and accessibility in India?

Krishna Veer Singh: We at LISSUN are not just focused on offering mental health services, but on driving a fundamental shift in how mental health is perceived and accessed in India, through our commitment to the “6 As”: Awareness, Acceptance, Anonymity, Access, Affordability, and Assurance.

We aim to raise awareness about mental health issues, educating the public and reducing the stigma that often prevents individuals from seeking help. Acceptance is a key part of our mission, as we work to ensure mental health is viewed as an integral aspect of overall well-being.

We emphasize anonymity, ensuring that individuals feel safe and protected when seeking support. Our focus on access ensures that services are available to people across the country, regardless of location, through both digital and physical channels.

Affordability is critical to our approach, making sure that mental health care is within reach for all. Importantly, we provide assurance that those who turn to us will receive high-quality care, personalized to meet their needs, ensuring that every individual feels heard, supported, and empowered to take charge of their mental well-being.

How do you see the mental health landscape evolving in the next few years, and what role will Lissun play in that evolution?

Krishna Veer Singh: At LISSUN, we are deeply committed to addressing the growing mental health crisis in India, and we foresee playing a critical role in the evolving mental health space in the coming years.

With the Indian mental health market projected to reach USD 62.86 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 28.16% from 2024-2032, the demand for mental health services will continue to surge.

Close to 60 to 70 million people in India suffer from common and severe mental disorders, and with India being the world’s suicide capital, the urgency for mental health intervention has never been clearer. Alarmingly, at least 50 million children were affected by mental health issues before the pandemic, with 80-90% of them not seeking support.

As mental health care becomes increasingly important, LISSUN envisions a future where we are at the forefront of addressing this growing demand by providing comprehensive, accessible services.

Through our wide range of offerings, including one-on-one therapy, group sessions, webinars, and train-the-trainer programs, we are already making strides in meeting the needs of individuals across the country.

Notably, our specialized division, Sunshine by LISSUN, plays a pivotal role by offering services tailored to children with developmental and neurological challenges, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavioral therapy.

This specialized care, delivered through a phygital model, integrates advanced technology with high-quality physical infrastructure, ensuring we can reach more families with holistic care.

How do you ensure that Lissun remains user-centric in its offerings and services?

Krishna Veer Singh: We maintain a strong focus on feedback and engagement, regularly gathering input from our users through surveys, one-on-one interactions, and therapy sessions. This helps us identify areas for improvement and tailor our offerings to address their specific concerns.

Our team of experts, including psychologists, therapists, and special educators, collaborates closely with users to ensure our services are personalized and effective.

We also leverage technology to enhance the user experience, making mental health services easily accessible through our platform, both digitally and physically.

Additionally, we ensure that our services are flexible and inclusive, catering to various age groups and ental health needs, from general therapy to specialized programs for children with neurological and developmental challenges. This commitment to personalized, accessible care ensures we remain focused on the well-being of those we serve.

What advice would you give to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to enter the mental health space?

Krishna Veer Singh: For aspiring entrepreneurs entering the mental health space, my advice is to deeply understand the emotional and psychological needs of your target audience. Mental health is a sensitive field, and success hinges on building trust and providing genuine value.

Focus on creating accessible, affordable, and scalable solutions that address real challenges. Collaborate with experts, whether therapists or medical professionals, to ensure your offerings are grounded in best practices.

It’s also crucial to foster a culture of awareness and empathy within your organization, as mental health requires a compassionate approach. Last but not least, be patient; mental health initiatives take time to grow, and perseverance is key to driving long-term change.

As we conclude our conversation, Mr. Singh’s vision for LISSUN highlights the transformative power of mental health support, inspiring a future where everyone can prioritize their mental well-being.

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