Beacons of Light for Women’s Mental Health
By Aphrodite Kotrotsios – Hellenic News of America
New York, NY – September 24, 2025— In a heartfelt evening dedicated to the advancement of women’s and perinatal mental health, leaders, clinicians, and advocates gathered in New York City for An Evening in Honor of Women’s Mental Health, hosted by the Seleni Institute in partnership with Fainareti, a pioneering organization based in Greece.
Opening the evening, Seema Bajaj, Executive Director of the Seleni Institute, greeted guests with humility and grace.
She reflected on the institute’s founding in 2011 by George and Nitzia Logothetis, who envisioned a place where treatment and training would converge to support women, couples, and families through the most vulnerable moments of their lives.
“This initiative was meant to have a lasting impact for generations to come,” Bajaj explained. “As a mother of four, this mission resonates deeply with me.”
Although Nitzia Logothetis, Seleni’s co-founder and driving force, could not attend, Bajaj painted a vivid portrait of her dedication.
“Nitzia is the heart and soul of Seleni, a clinician, mentor, and visionary who built our strategies and inspired our team. She truly made Seleni what it is today.”
Bajaj went on to describe how Seleni’s impact now spans continents through its global training platform.
“We see patients both in person and virtually, and we train providers all over the world,” she said. “A doula in Greece or a midwife in India can now receive training that allows them to expand their impact in their own communities.”
What began as a local initiative has evolved into a worldwide movement, addressing gaps in women’s mental health education, from postpartum depression and fertility to grief and perinatal anxiety disorders.
“Our clinicians are the backbone of Seleni,” Bajaj emphasized. “They tell us what’s missing, what our community needs. And we respond.”
Recent initiatives have included programs on Black maternal health and a new curriculum on fertility; both aimed at ending the silence that often surrounds women’s emotional struggles.
“Too many live this experience in isolation,” she said. “We must end the stigma, share our stories, and remember that when we support women, we strengthen families, communities, and the world.”
Values That Connect the World
When George Logothetis, Co-Founder of the Seleni Institute, Executive Chairman of Libra Group, and Chairman of Libra Philanthropies, took the podium, he did so with a blend of candor, humor, and heart.
What followed was a story, part travel anecdote, part parable, about Seleni’s reach and resonance. Logothetis recounted a visit to Bogotá, Colombia, where his company, Greenwood Energy, partners with an indigenous community in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
“These are people who have suffered mistrust for centuries,” he said. “It took us six years to gain their trust, and it was ancient Greek values that made that possible.”
During a meeting, he noticed a young mother growing emotional as he spoke about Seleni’s work. When Seema rose to share more, the entire group stood and began to sing, chanting her name.
“That’s connection,” he reflected. “Values connect the world. Cultures are different, but values are the same, helping someone, being honest, empowering others.”
As he spoke about the institute’s work, Logothetis reflected on the universal values that unite humanity, the courage to face our emotions, the compassion to help others, and the honesty to empower those around us. He drew a parallel between Seleni, named for the Greek goddess of the moon, the goddess of emotions and Eleni, the brave Greek mother whose story symbolizes selflessness and strength.
Together, these ideas capture the essence of Seleni’s purpose: a commitment to bravery, compassion, and the light of understanding that guides women and families through life’s most emotional journeys.
Fainareti: Greece’s Model of Compassionate Care
Representing Fainareti, Vassilios Daglas, Treasurer of the Board and Executive Director, spoke of a partnership that bridges the Atlantic.
“Both sides of the ocean work for the same purpose,” he said. “It means a lot to join this important and seminal event and to participate in the Concordia Summit.”
Founded in 2006 in Athens, Fainareti has become Greece’s foremost advocate for women’s physical and mental health.
“Our name comes from Socrates’ mother, who was a midwife,” Daglas explained. “She inspired his philosophical method, helping him bring truth to light. Fainareti literally means ‘she who brings virtue into light.’”
The name reflects the organization’s dual focus on midwifery and mental health support; both rooted in empowerment and care.
For nearly two decades, Fainareti has offered free, holistic services, psychotherapy, psychiatric monitoring, midwifery counseling, parental education, and national helplines that have supported more than 90,000 calls since 2014. It also runs a Baby Bank, redistributing baby essentials to families in need.
Backed by the Greek government, the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the Hellenic Initiative, and other partners, Fainareti embodies the spirit of social responsibility and compassion that defines modern Hellenism.
Taking the stage next, Despina Karagianni, Clinical Director of Fainareti’s Day Centre for the Mental Health of Women, outlined the organization’s evidence-based, human-centered model of care.
“Our model includes screening for mental health disorders, domestic violence, and other risk factors,” she explained. “From the first phone call, throughout pregnancy, and up to one year after birth, we offer individualized midwifery and psychological care.”
Fainareti’s approach is inclusive, extending support to partners, single parents, and families navigating IVF, perinatal loss, or grief.
“We responded to an unmet need,” she said. “We built trust in the community not through advertising, but through dedication, compassion, and scientific excellence.”
Karagianni stressed that Fainareti’s mission goes beyond clinical care, it’s about restoring dignity.
“Quality does not mean luxury,” she said. “It means accessible care delivered by professionals who love their work and respect human beings.”
As the organization nears its 20th anniversary in 2026, Fainareti hopes to expand to more cities and islands across Greece, ensuring that no woman faces motherhood alone.
“What we offer is not a luxury, it is a necessity,” she concluded. “Our goal is to extend the embrace of the Fainareti family to every woman who needs it.”
Two Beacons, One Light
In a world still struggling to speak openly about mental health, the Seleni Institute and Fainareti shine as beacons of light, proving that empathy, education, and partnership can cross continents and cultures.
One born in New York, the other in Athens, they are united by shared values: philanthropia, empathy, and courage.
Together, they stand for every woman who has suffered in silence, for every family searching for understanding, and for every community ready to heal.
Their message is clear and timeless, when we empower women, we illuminate humanity.
Please wait...