Successful aging goes beyond simply living longer; it encompasses various dimensions of well-being, including physical health, cognitive function, resilience, and social engagement. Some researchers define it as freedom from disease and disability, maintaining high cognitive and physical functioning levels, and adapting to losses. We lose our loved ones. Our physical abilities start to fail, like hearing, eyesight, muscle strength, and agility of our joints. One old person shared that he viewed life as a book as he aged. When one chapter is over, he must move on to the next (Aging Well: Surpri ..read more

In keeping with SAMHIN’s mission of greater dialogue on mental health in South Asians and highlight the important work of others in this area, we invited Neha Pundeer, a New York City psychotherapist and mother, to share her thoughts on postpartum depression. Many women aspire to relish the journey of motherhood, yet sometimes, this cherished dream transforms into a distressing reality. As a mental health professional who struggled for eight years to conceive, when I finally became pregnant, it seemed as if all my prayers had been answered. However, I encountered the adverse side of this ideal ..read more

What exactly is dementia? It can be characterized as a broad category of cognitive impairments, the most prevalent being Alzheimer’s disease. Memory loss, disorientation, altered personalities, and trouble with daily tasks can result from these conditions. This challenging condition impacts millions of people throughout the world. It can be emotionally and physically draining to care for dementia patients, whether you’re a healthcare professional or caregiver. Nonetheless, it is possible to give compassionate care and enhance the quality of life for dementia patients with the appropriate attit ..read more

In keeping with SAMHIN’s mission of greater dialogue on mental health in the South Asian community and to highlight the experiences of others, we invited Anju Puri, who is committed to helping people, to tell us how about the role self-reflection has played in her personal grief journey. A major portion of society’s attitudes and expectations indicate that holding onto a loved one after they died is a sign of weakness. I might have bought into this belief had I not taken the time to self-reflect the loss of my parents. Dad passed away in September 2013 and left a void in my life. I sensed the ..read more

In keeping with SAMHIN’s mission of greater dialogue on mental health in the South Asian community and to highlight the important work of others in this area, we invited Jaspreet Kaur, a medical student, to share her thoughts and experience with a daily gratitude practice. Practicing gratitude every day can positively change our lives by improving our mental health and fostering healthier relationships. It can help us value each small moment and acknowledge those around us. As we start to recognize the little wins, we develop a mentality focused on improving our overall well-being. It doesn’t ..read more

How many of us think our families have fully expressed their grief? As far back as I can recall from my early childhood memories from India, I vividly remember that my mom and paternal grandmother would make it a point to attend funerals/family visits whenever there was a loss. I come from a very large, close-knit family which helped foster one of my core values to support one another through both good and bad times. I also have memories of all families coordinating ritual ceremonies that lasted for 13 to 40 days. Since I was the youngest in the family, I was sheltered from talks of any loss ..read more

Life’s surprises encompass moments of joy and heartache. This blog post explores our family’s personal story of heartbreak to hope. Life is short, and I live by the mantra of enjoying every moment. However, when I found myself widowed at 37, I couldn’t believe it was real. It was something I never expected to happen. We were supposed to outlive our elders, at the very least. Instead, I found myself cremating my husband at a young age. For months after Ranbir’s passing, I felt like I was in a dream. The days that followed his death were filled with activity, yet they felt empty. I was not only ..read more

In keeping with SAMHIN’s mission of greater dialogue on mental health in the South Asian community and highlight the important work of others, we invited Tanish Apte-Joshi, a high school senior and SAMHIN volunteer, to share his thoughts on stigma associated with mental illness in South Asian youth. Mental health stigma is a significant issue in many cultures around the world, and unfortunately, South Asian American youth are not immune to its effects. In this blog post, we will explore the various ways mental health stigma affects South Asian American youth and what can be done to address thi ..read more

In keeping with SAMHIN’s mission of greater dialogue on mental health in the South Asian community and to highlight the important work of others, we invited Harkiran Kaur, an incoming college freshman, with a passion to break down stigma associated with mental illness to share her efforts and initiatives to address mental health in her California community. For years, the South Asian community has ignored the signs of mental illness to create the facade of a perfect family. The seriousness of mental illnesses is disregarded by many, resulting in South Asians not receiving the help they need. T ..read more

In keeping with SAMHIN’s mission of greater dialogue on mental health in the South Asian community and to highlight the important work of others in this area, we invited Sasha Samra, an aspiring lawyer and strong advocate of mental health, to share her thoughts on how culture and religion can be confused. Religion and culture are two things that often get misconstrued in traditional South Asian communities. While both influence and shape our values, beliefs, and practices, it is essential to understand the difference between the two. Religion can be defined as an individual’s relationship with ..read more