SAATH HAI SHAKTI - Issue 3 by wearesaath_unc

ISSUE 3 | MAY 2021

TOGETHER IS POWER

photographed by Izzy D'Alo

photographed by Jiselle Vellaringattu

CREATIVITY IN MENTAL HEALTH: A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF THE

SOUTH ASIAN STRUGGLE

THE WORLD OF STORIES: HOW WRITING CAN IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH

ESCAPING REALITY: THE HEALING POWER OF DANCING

SPLATTER, BRUSH, OUTLINE: ART AS A TOOL OF OVERCOMING MENTAL ILLNESS

MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES

MEET THE CREATORS

photographed by Jiselle Vellaringattu

photographed by Izzy D'Alo

photographed by Jiselle Vellaringattu

photographed by Izzy D'Alo

THE CONVERSATION SURROUNDING MENTAL HEALTH IN SOUTH ASIAN SOCIETIES IS HARD TO BRING ABOUT WITHOUT RECEIVING A GLARE OR AN IRRITATED SIGH FROM YOUR FAMILY. SOMETIMES IT IS HARD TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION WITH YOURSELF WITHOUT HAVING THE WORDS OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY ECHO IN YOUR HEAD. “THIS ISN’T FOR US.” “IT IS A WEAKNESS.” “STOP BEING DRAMATIC.” “SNAP OUT OF IT.” EVENTUALLY, THOSE ECHOES BECOME YOUR OWN. IN MANY WAYS, SOUTH ASIAN CHILDREN WILL FULLY SUPPORT THE IDEA OF MENTAL HEALTH...WHEN IT APPLIES TO OTHERS. WE TEND TO HOLD OURSELVES TO DIFFERENT STANDARDS. I AM GUILTY OF THIS TOO. SO I TRIED TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION WITH MYSELF IN THE ONLY LANGUAGE I FULLY COMPREHEND. FASHION. I PAINTED A PICTURE OF WHAT MY MIND LOOKED LIKE WHEN IT WAS BATTLING WITH CERTAIN ISSUES AND THE RESPONSES I GAVE MYSELF. AND THEN I PAINTED A PICTURE OF WHAT I WANT MY MIND TO BE LIKE AND THE JOURNEY TO THAT DESTINATION. THE RESULT? THIS COLLECTION. THE ENTIRE COLLECTION WAS FABRICATED IN ZIMBABWE AMIDST THE HARDSHIP OF THE PANDEMIC. AS I WAS NOT ABLE TO PHYSICALLY BE THERE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE OUTFITS, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY MOTHER, PREEYA BHAGAT, FOR HELPING US BRING THIS VISION TO LIFE BY MANAGING THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTION FROM SOURCING FABRICS, CONVEYING THE DESIGNS TO THE TAILOR AND MAKING ANY ALTERATIONS NECESSARY. ALL OF THE OUTFITS WERE MADE BY JAME F. AMIN, A SELF-EMPLOYED TAILOR WHO, DESPITE HIS DREAM OF BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER, TOOK UP TAILORING DUE TO FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS. AMIN HAS GAINED INCREDIBLE SKILL IN SEWING AND GARMENT CONSTRUCTION WITHOUT ANY PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND HOPES TO ONE DAY OPEN HIS OWN CLOTHING COMPANY. “MY FAVORITE FASHION COMPANY WILL BE THE ONE I START,” HE SAYS.

photographed by Jiselle Vellaringattu

photographed by Izzy D'Alo

BY : VANYA BHAT

I TAKE A DEEP BREATH IN AND THEN OUT IN AND THEN OUT. I INHALE THE FAMILIAR SMELL OF THE INK FROM THE PEN I’M HOLDING AS MY HAND FLIES ACROSS THE PAGE. I LISTEN TO MY HEARTBEAT AND THE SCRITCH-SCRATCH OF THE TIP HITTING THE PAPER AS I SCRIBBLE VIOLENTLY ACROSS THE PAGE. I’M NOT PAYING ANY REGARD TO THE ELOQUENCE OF THE LANGUAGE I’M USING. NOT CARING ABOUT THE “TABOO” TOPICS I WAS DISCUSSING. WORDS DETAIL THE RISING EMOTIONS INSIDE OF ME. WORDS DESCRIBE THE FEELINGS THAT I CAN’T SPEAK ABOUT. WORDS TELL THE STORIES AND SHARE THE FEELINGS THAT I CAN’T EXPRESS. WRITING IS ONE OF THE OLDEST FORMS OF COMMUNICATION IN HUMAN HISTORY. A STUDY BY MATTHEW ANDERSSON AND COLLEEN CONLEY HAS SHOWN THAT EXPRESSIVE WRITING THROUGH A FIRST-PERSON NARRATIVE AND USING A THIRDPERSON NARRATIVE AS A COPING MECHANISM CAN HAVE LONG-LASTING MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS. I HAVE USED BOTH NARRATIVES WHEN I’VE BEEN STRESSED OR FRUSTRATED TO RELEASE MY EMOTIONS IN A HEALTHY MANNER. I USE THE FIRSTPERSON NARRATIVE TO VENT MY IMMEDIATE EMOTIONAL RESPONSE AND THE THIRD-PERSON NARRATIVE AS A WAY OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND MY FEELINGS AFTER I’VE CALMED DOWN. FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS WHO USE THIS TECHNIQUE, WRITING IS A WAY TO ORGANIZE OUR THOUGHTS AND GIVE MEANING TO THE EMOTIONS AND EXPERIENCES WE ENCOUNTER. IT IMPROVES OUR EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND HELPS US RECOGNIZE HOW THE WORLD AROUND US AFFECTS US.

VANYA BHAT: TA WRITER FOR "SAATH HAI SHAKTI"

INTERESTINGLY, STUDIES SHOW THAT ONLINE BLOGS AND INTERACTIVE FORUMS PLAY A SIMILAR ROLE AS A PHYSICAL JOURNAL OR DIARY. ONE STUDY CONDUCTED BY MEYRAN BONIEL-NISSIM AND AZY BARAK SHOWED THAT ADOLESCENTS WHO BLOGGED OR WROTE REGULARLY ON INTERACTIVE ONLINE FORUMS SHOWED A DECREASE IN THE LEVEL OF DISTRESS THEY FELT AND HAD A GREATER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL AWARENESS. ONLINE INTERFACES PROVIDE ANONYMOUS INTERPERSONAL INTERACTIONS THAT CAN BE HELPFUL WHEN ONE IS TRYING TO TALK ABOUT THEMSELVES. I’VE ALSO TRIED BLOGGING AND ENGAGING IN INTERACTIVE ONLINE FORUMS. FOR ME, THE FORUMS PROVIDED MORE SUPPORT THAN BLOGGING, AND I WAS ABLE TO RESOLVE SPECIFIC ISSUES AND LEARN MORE ABOUT MYSELF THROUGH THE INTERACTIONS I HAD WITH THESE STRANGERS.

WHEN I FIRST DECIDED TO TALK ABOUT MY MENTAL HEALTH ONLINE ANONYMOUSLY, IT WAS DAUNTING. MANY SOUTH ASIANS (INCLUDING MYSELF) COME FROM A BACKGROUND WHERE MANY OF THESE ISSUES ARE TABOO. SOME MATTERS ARE BLATANTLY PLAYED OFF AS DRAMATIC AND ATTENTION-SEEKING. IT TOOK ME A VERY LONG TIME TO BUILD UP ENOUGH COURAGE TO SPEAK ABOUT THESE ISSUES; HOWEVER, I DO NOT REGRET THE INITIAL BURST OF CONFIDENCE THAT MADE ME HIT THE “POST” BUTTON. I HAVE RECEIVED MUCH SUPPORT FROM STRANGERS WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. IN AN UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY THAT PROMOTES SELF-GROWTH AND COMPASSION, IT’S EASY TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER, WHETHER YOU PERSONALLY KNOW THE INDIVIDUAL OR NOT. EVEN IF ONLINE FORUMS OR BLOGGING MAY NOT BE YOUR NICHE, WRITING EVEN ONE PARAGRAPH MAY HELP YOU UNDERSTAND YOURSELF AND PROMOTE SELF-EXPRESSION AND HEALING. SOUTH ASIAN AUTHORS SUCH AS RUPINDER GILL AND RESHMA SAUJANI DISCUSS THEIR EXPERIENCES OF LIVING IN THE WEST AND HOW CONFLICTING CULTURAL VALUES HAVE IMPACTED THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. SOUTH ASIAN BLOGS AND PLATFORMS SUCH AS MANNMUKTI SPEAK OUT ABOUT CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA IN THE COMMUNITY AND CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR SOUTH ASIANS TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES. WRITING ISN’T A PLACEHOLDER FOR THERAPY; IT’S A WAY OF INDIVIDUALISM. WRITING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE ELOQUENT OR MAJESTIC; HOWEVER, IT WILL ALWAYS BE A WAY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF AND GAIN INSIGHT INTO YOUR MIND AND STORY.

RUPINDER GILL, THE AUTHOR OF "ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN": A MEMOIR

RESHMA SAUJANI, LAWYER, WRITER, AND FOUND OF "GIRLS WHO CODE"

photographed by Jiselle Vellaringattu

BY: SHREYA RAMINENI

All the assignments, deadlines, grades, applications, and concerns about the future on my mind would float away as I stepped into my 6 pm Jazz class. Things that worried me no longer mattered for the next 3 hours as I immersed myself in the rhythm of jazz, the gracefulness of lyrical dancing, and the energy of hip hop. Since I was 8 years old, dance has always been my favorite escape from reality. As soon as the music fills the room and each movement of your body is in sync with those around you, it’s hard to think about anything else. Some of my best memories, stories, and friendships are a product of dance.

I never really understood the positive impact dance was having on my mental health until I took a break my junior year of high school due to a heavier course load. That year was a very low point for me because, for the first time, I had to experience and learn to be comfortable with major academic failures. It was a treacherous cycle of me studying and failing, getting angry at myself for failing, and then not learning from my mistakes and failing again. I wasn’t eating enough, sleeping well, or taking care of myself properly because I always thought about school or doing school work. I never allowed myself to take breaks, and dance wasn’t there to be my escape. At the time, I didn’t make the connection, but today I know it was a mistake quitting dance that year. If anything, it was the year I needed it most because it would have forced me to balance school and other things I love doing.

Dancing has been around for years and serves a unique purpose for everyone. It can be cultural, artistic, physical, mental, emotional, social, and so much more. In a study conducted by Murcia, Kreutz, Clift, and Bongard, it was found that many non-professional dancers in an exploratory study claimed that dancing aided in their own “positive self-perception, body image and esteem” because it provided a sense of accomplishment while requiring some extent of physical rigor. Dance has also been found to reduce stress by “developing physical fitness and finding social support” while also being meaningful and provoking positive emotions. Not only has dancing been found to relieve stress and elevate self-esteem, but it also has been shown to relieve body pains and enhance physical functions in patients who have Parkinson's disease, a benefit that is still being studied in line with dance/movement therapy (DMT).

A South Asian dancer, choreographer, and dance educator, Swarali Karulkar, used her love for dance to overcome her depression and identity crisis after moving to New York from Mumbai, India. This inspired her to start the Bolly-Heals movement, which aims to empower individuals by mixing Indian culture with dance therapy, leaving students more energized, confident, and renewed appreciation for their bodies. Today, she has led over 70 workshops across four countries and 18 cities. However, like many other things in life, dancing can also be a stressor if perceived in that way. Fretting over “incorrect” movements or attracting unwanted attention could overpower the positive aspects of dance. However, you don’t have to be a professional dancer to reap the benefits of dancing. By focusing less on perfecting choreography and more on the music, dancing allows for a way to escape reality. The way your body moves and the corresponding release of pent-up energy can take your mind off all your worries, even if it’s just for a few minutes.

SWARALI KARULKAR : CREATOR OF BOLLY-HEALS

BY: BHAGYASHREE BEHERA

As mental health awareness increases, it is becoming increasingly apparent that many people develop some form of mental illness during their lifetime. According to recent statistics by the National Institute of Mental Health, one-fifth of all American adults struggle with mental illness. That percentage only increases among marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community and racial minorities. When I was a sophomore in high school, I suffered from depression for over a year. From an outsider’s perspective, no one would be able to recognize that I was battling suicidal thoughts, emotional numbness, and a distinct type of sadness that never left. The only times where I felt like I could more easily forget about these dark thoughts was when I focused on painting. Every brushstroke, every detail helped me focus on my thoughts, and slowly I could locate the reason I had been depressed for so long. Interestingly, multiple studies have been done on the benefits of painting to release or express the tumultuous emotion one may experience as they battle mental illness. According to a review done by the National Library of Medicine, participants in a study who suffered from severe depression “reported fewer depressive symptoms at the termination of psychotherapy compared to the initial level, and they reported even fewer symptoms at the 3-month follow-up. Observer-rated depressive symptoms showed a similar decline,” which demonstrates that art can be effective as a form of therapy. It is important to note that art therapy alone has never been measured; instead, art therapy has been limited as a form of therapy that only supplements psychotherapy.

One South Asian woman named Yamini Rajan used art forms like henna and painting to overcome her selfharm thoughts. Rajan details her experience with body art (henna) to soothe her thoughts as she writes, “Soon, this became my new go-to, at the slightest feeling of anxiety or an urge to cut, I would pull out a marker and begin to draw on myself.” Rajan now owns her own business and works with ASHA International, a South Asian mental health awareness blog, to share her story. Art is not the end all be all of the therapy. However, the act of painting as a form of self-expression and focusing on improving one’s artistic style can be an excellent way of healing one’s mind.

AN OMAGE TO HERITAGE: ARTWORK BY YAMINI RAJAN

AN OVERFLOW OF THOUGHTS: YAMINI RAJAN

photographed by Jiselle Vellaringattu

photographed by Izzy D'Alo

Hrishika Muthukrishnan Editor-in-Chief

Bhagyashree Behera Designer

Fariha Rahman Designer

Priya Patel Editor

Anissa Deol Editor

Sneha Makhijani Editor

Vanya Bhat Writer

Shreya Ramineni Writer

South Asian LGBTQ+ Helpline: Be Comfortable in Your Own Skin (908-367-3374). Bengali Mental Health Movement (Insta Handle: @bengalimentalhealthmvmnt) “A 501c3 Non-Profit Org - NYC with directory of South Asian/Bengali Mental Health Professionals and Alaap Podcast and Translated Resources. South Asian Therapists (Insta Handle: @southasiantherapists) Looking for a therapist? Visit our directory (#1 directory for South Asian Therapists). Sister directory: @southasianwellbeing Powered by @pinkladoo www.southasiantherapists.org. Samhin.org: Official South Asian Mental Health advocates Find South Asian/unbiased therapists. Sasmha.org Helps South Asians facing mental health issues and support for those who have experienced sexual assault. National Eating Disorders Association Helpline (800-9312237) National Suicide Prevention Helpline (800-273-8255) Art Therapy Institute of NC (http://www.ncati.org/) 26

photographed by Izzy D'Alo