Mental health issues in the Sikh community can be perceived as signs of weakness, leading to reluctance in seeking help. Noor Khera struggled with self-acceptance but improved her situation by following a doctor's advice and taking antidepressants. Dr. Ravinder Randhawa noted that patients often fear judgment from family and friends when discussing mental health. Naz Khera experienced dismissal of her mental health concerns from loved ones. The challenges of emotional expression are prevalent in many Asian communities, not just among Sikhs.
"I have heard it multiple times: 'Be strong.' One day I started wondering, why am I so weak? My husband said to me, 'You're not weak, you're sick.' It allowed me to accept what's wrong with me and to work on that."
"Many, many times, patients have mentioned this reluctance. They're scared of (being) judged by family and friends," she said, referring to the stigma in the Sikh community regarding mental health.
"A lot of Asian communities struggle with emotional expression," Randhawa said, indicating that the challenges surrounding mental health are not unique to Sikhs.
"I was able to educate all my family and encourage them to be more open to seek help," said Dr. Randhawa, reflecting on her experience in advocating for mental health awareness.
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