South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network – The Next Steps (Part Two)

In keeping with PRMS’ mission to support the greater behavioral health community, we invited Vasudev Makhija, MD, DLFAPA, founder and president of the South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network (SAMHIN), and a past president of the New Jersey Psychiatric Association (NJPA), to share more about SAMHIN and its future plans. PRMS is proud to support SAMHIN’s mission to support mental health awareness and assistance among South Asian communities. [See Part One of Dr. Makhija’s blog post on SAMHIN’s journey over the past ten years.]

SAMHIN’s Ongoing Initiatives

Building New Bridges:

In addition to fostering partnerships and alliances with other organizations, we have begun to partner with South Asian student bodies in high schools and colleges across the U.S. to increase mental health awareness, improve mental health literacy, and decrease stigma. I have also been invited by Rutgers – New York University Center for Asian Health Promotion and Equity (CAHPE) to participate in a Community Advisory Board, along with other organizations, to serve on committees and workgroups, assist with research priorities, and provide input for the development of research. This will be a great opportunity to improve research on South Asians in the U.S., which is sparse at present.

South Asian Provider Directory:

The SAMHIN website has a directory of South Asian mental health clinicians, a helpful resource for those seeking culturally competent care from a South Asian clinician, especially one who speaks a South Asian language. This list has grown significantly over the years, and new providers can sign up to list their practices on the website by completing the provider registration form.

Helpline:

SAMHIN’s Helpline offers an opportunity for the South Asian community to reach us via telephone, email, or text on issues of mental health and substance use. In addition to individuals, many agencies at State and County levels, hospitals, private practices, and universities seek SAMHIN’s assistance with culturally nuanced issues they are facing in care of South Asians. It is very gratifying to see that we are making a difference in people’s lives.

Support Groups:

SAMHIN launched the very first South Asian AA meetings in 2015 at a local church in Iselin, NJ. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the meetings were held virtually on Zoom, and grew to meeting once or twice a week. The virtual meetings gave people from all over the U.S. the opportunity to participate, and today they are run by members of AA as the Global Gratitude Group of USA AA.  The group allows those not proficient in English to freely participate without embarrassment or shame.

In 2019, we launched the Janani Suicide Loss Survivor Support Group for anyone affected by suicide, and thereafter, launched two more support groups – the Desi Divorced Women’s Support Group to help South Asian women who are separated or divorced, and the Mental Wellness Support Group for 18-30 year-olds. Supporting younger South Asians came from a need recognizing that young students and medical students were facing stigma within their families and difficulty getting parents to take their mental health concerns seriously. 

SAMHIN’s Goals for the Next Five Years

While we are gratified with our work so far, we aspire to continue growing and to do more, including:

• Forging more partnerships to engage communities across the U.S.
• Improving our data organization to document our work in the communities and on the Helpline.
• Adding support groups as we identify needs, such as grief support.
• Organizing and launching an emotional literacy program for children 9-11 years old.
• Enhancing the SAMHIN website to bring more easily accessible resources and information.
• Increasing mental health professionals’ monthly presence at local Gurudwaras (Sikh place of worship) to connect with communities and offer mental health screenings.

Funding for SAMHIN’s operation comes from grants, individual, and corporate donations and sponsorships, and we are grateful for the ongoing support from PRMS. If you would like to support our mission, visit our website to donate.

I thank you for taking the interest in reading this article to learn about SAMHIN.

To learn more about the superior psychiatry-specific insurance program and comprehensive services offered by PRMS, click here.