a Dr. Paras Sharma is the co-founder and Director at The Alternative Story mental health startup, and an Assistant Professor in Psychology at a prominent institute in Bengaluru. He holds a Master's Degree in Counselling, a Master's in Women's and Gender Studies and a Doctorate in Psychology. In a career spanning over 15 years, he has worked at hospitals, helplines, corporate mental health organizations, and academic institutions. He has contributed to the establishment of government initiatives to address Violence Against Women and mental health in multiple states in India. He is actively engaged in research on issues of men's mental health, chronic illness, neurodivergence, and invisible disability.