Community Voices
Many South Asians report that they're struggling with mental health challenges but are unsure where to turn or who to talk with. Remember that you are not alone. Here are some quotes collected from a 2023 qualitative research, "What Motivates South Asian Female Emerging Adults to Seek Formal Mental Health Treatment" (Reda, under review) and recent interviews for this website with South Asian community members. Their identities are posted as they requested.
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You may notice that there are not many male voices shared below. Gender roles play a significant part in some Asian communities and it might be difficult for males to talk about their feelings or seek treatment (Arora et al., 2015).
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If any of these quotes resonate with you or you would like to share an experience, please use the Contact Me form. Collective voices are a powerful thing.
"I feel they won't understand...because people say I'm a little dramatic, so then people just think that I'm overreacting." (Indian Female, age 29)
"I probably would not have sought out couples therapy had it not been for a friend of mine." (Indian Male, age 36)
"[Being in therapy] made me enjoy my life a little more and feel supported." (Pakistani Female, age 25)
"I carry a lot of a privilege in South Asian society just by virtue of being male, they were largely one sided disclosures." (Indian Male, age 36)
"She has allowed me to be vulnerable, to express myself, to talk about how I feel without judgment. So that is one thing that I love about the sessions. And in that way, I'm able to express myself more, not only to her, but to people surrounding me." (Indian Female, age 25)
"First of all, they don't believe in therapy [...] it's meditation and yoga and prayer, family time for them, that's therapy enough. I mean, you don't have to go spend money on someone else just to talk to them. [Being in therapy now] I have seen changes in my day to day life, how I handle situations and see how I'm able to handle things like conflict. It has also helped me to see the benefit of therapy, just talking to someone. I think it's really important." (Indian Female, age 22)
"They're very open to it. They're very okay with the idea of seeking help if I need, because I remember talking to my mom about it. And then we have a family friend who's a therapist herself, and she was like, you can go talk to her if you want, or if you feel like you need help." (Nepalese Female, age 19)
"We're [parents] here for you. Just don't do anything bad." (Indian Female, age 29)
"I want to fall asleep and never wake up. And I also knew that this was a part of having suicidal thought and depression at that time. I told my mom about this [...] and she was like, you're going [to therapy] tomorrow." (Pakistani Female, age 19)
Hesitation to share
Support
Having the conversation
Talking with a therapist
After telling parents
Talking to parents
Talking to parents and being in therapy
Needing to tell parents
Conversations around mental health
"As South Asian health professionals, it is our responsibility to empower our communities to take control of their mental health, find resources and get the help they deserve." (Indian American Female, age 37)
From a advocate