Ria Badhwar was just 5 years old when her parents divorced. In the years that followed, she saw her mother struggle with severe depression and anxiety.
For a long time, Badhwar’s mother was unhappy with how her life had turned out and lost her sense of purpose.
In late 2022, Badhwar’s mother abruptly left, forcing Badhwar to move in with her father. This transition triggered her own battles with anxiety and depression, which she managed to overcome through therapy.
At 17, Badhwar realized many young girls and women face similar mental health issues. Last year, she founded a nonprofit called EmpowerNari. “Nari” means woman in Sanskrit.
The group’s mission is to support women facing mental health challenges and encourage them to seek the help Badhwar was fortunate to receive.
“I really want to help others going through similar issues,” Badhwar said. “When my mother left, I felt very alone. I didn’t have anyone to talk to or a support system.”
So far, EmpowerNari has collected 7,050 articles of clothing donated to Women Giving Back, a nonprofit in Sterling, Virginia. This organization has a boutique where low-income women can shop for themselves and their families twice a year for free.
Last weekend, EmpowerNari partnered with City Girls Who Walk D.C. for a three-mile walk event in Navy Yard. The walk raised $305 for Women Giving Back.
“I feel like, especially for women in Loudoun County and single moms, their main issue with depression and anxiety is often financial,” Badhwar said. “I wanted to help low-income women in our area.”
In addition to clothing donations, EmpowerNari is writing cards to women who are deployed or veterans and plans to make care packages for domestic violence survivors.
Badhwar also wants to speak to Virginia state lawmakers to advocate for more resources to expand youth mental health services.
“A lot of people are dealing with many things and not talking about it or handling it in healthy ways,” Badhwar said. “If we encourage open discussion and really help people, it will make a big difference.”
Badhwar noted that too many people view mental health issues as something to simply get over, rather than as a legitimate problem or condition.
