Her extensive experience spans community and inpatient mental health services, including work in medium secure forensic settings, where she treated individuals with complex mental health needs.

It was during her time in forensic services that Dr. Patel encountered a recurring theme: many of her patients had endured significant childhood trauma, often compounded by a lack of early support. The systems surrounding these children had failed to recognise and address their needs, setting them on paths marked by worsening mental health, substance abuse, poverty, and neglect.

Reflecting on these experiences, Dr. Patel recognised the need for systemic change. “The system around the child wasn’t equipped with the knowledge or tools to recognise when a child needed help,” she explains. While educators and caregivers had the passion and best intentions, they were not adequately trained or supported to address the increasing complexity of children’s mental health needs. This realisation inspired her to found Innovating Minds, an organisation focused on early intervention and equipping schools and communities with trauma-informed practices.

Dr. Patel highlights the unsustainable burden placed on educational staff as children’s mental health deteriorates. While schools have taken on more responsibility in supporting vulnerable children, there comes a point when this approach becomes neither sustainable nor effective.

Yet, amidst these challenges, her patients often spoke of pivotal moments in their lives when someone cared for them—someone who gave them hope, made them feel safe, and helped them feel seen. These moments became the cornerstone of Dr. Patel’s philosophy: the power of everyday interactions to create meaningful change.

She believes that while clinical interventions are critical, frontline practitioners—teachers, caregivers, and community workers—play a vital role in shaping children’s emotional well-being. “As a frontline practitioner, you spend the most time with children—whether in the classroom, corridor, or community,” Dr. Patel says. “You have countless opportunities to be that safe, grounding adult who helps a child’s nervous system feel safe and regulated.”

Under Dr. Patel’s leadership, Innovating Minds is equipping schools and organisations to implement trauma-informed practices, fostering environments where children can feel supported and thrive. Her work aims to shift mental health systems from reactive to proactive, ensuring that no child falls through the cracks.

Learn more about Asha's research into supporting children affected by DA