About us
“Because I had lived through it, I was forced to admit that there is a lot of stuff that’s real, even when one doesn’t have the words to describe it. That while sometimes pain came from the intangible, so did hope, support and comfort. That the journey isn’t linear, help needs to be contextual and every other thing you now read in well-established global mental health literature!”
Why We Exist
Support shouldn’t only arrive in crisis.
Mental health is part of everyday life, yet support often becomes available only when someone is already in crisis. We started Agatsu because we believe people also need places to learn, connect, ask questions, build skills and seek support before things reach that point.
Everyone’s journey is different. Some people may never need therapy. Others will. We believe mental health should include both.
Our Vision
A world where people understand themselves, know how to handle life, and have people to lean on — where caring for yourself and others is a core part of everyday life.
Our Mission
Agatsu is a whole system — of knowledge, practical tools, and people that work together — to help you understand yourself, make better choices, and take care of your mental health in everyday life.
More Than Therapy
Mental health is more than just mental illness.
Therapy is an important part of mental health care, but it is only one part. People also need opportunities to understand themselves, build supportive relationships, learn practical skills, express themselves, ask for help and care for their mental health before, during and after treatment.
That’s why Agatsu brings together a Community Centre, a Therapy Clinic and a Learning Studio within one connected ecosystem.
Connected Care
Mental health isn’t experienced in isolated moments, so support shouldn’t be either.
People’s needs change over time. Someone might first attend a workshop, later join a support group, eventually seek therapy, and months later return to the Community Centre simply because they’ve found a place where they feel they belong. Someone else may only ever attend community events and never need therapy at all.
Rather than treating these as separate services, Agatsu is designed as a connected ecosystem where people can find the support that is right for them, when they need it.
Connected Care in Practice
Figures are being finalised from this year’s participation data.
Our Approach
Three things that make caring for mental health easier.
We believe caring for mental health becomes easier when three things are present in people’s lives.
Knowledge
Understanding yourself, your emotions and mental health well enough to make informed decisions.
Community
People who remind you that you are not alone and who help you navigate life’s challenges together.
Safety
Spaces where people feel accepted enough to be honest, okay with making mistakes, curious enough to participate, and comfortable asking for and receiving help.
Practising Emotional Hygiene
The ongoing practice of caring for our inner lives.
When knowledge, community and safety come together, they make possible what we call Emotional Hygiene.
- Self-knowledge through self-awareness
- Self-care
- Perspective shifting
- Connection
- Self-expression
- Asking for help
Every workshop, conversation, activity, support group, therapy session and piece of content at Agatsu is designed to strengthen one or more of these practices.
Our Horizon
Agatsu (吾勝)
noun · Self Victory
Self Victory is when a person is in equilibrium with themselves and the world around them. We believe this becomes possible when our actions are aligned with our values and beliefs. Everything we do at Agatsu is ultimately in service of helping people move towards Self Victory.
How We Work
With care, integrity, curiosity and respect for each person’s context.
At Agatsu, how we work matters as much as what we offer. We try to relate to people with care and respect, make thoughtful and ethical decisions, remain open to learning, and shape our work around people’s lives and contexts rather than expecting them to fit our systems. These are standards that both the organisation and every member of our team are expected to return to.
Our Team
The people behind Agatsu.
Directors
The people who steward Agatsu.
Advisory Board Members
The people who advise our work.
