MISSION
Growing up in a south Asian household mental health was not discussed as much as it should have been. I experienced bullying, racism, family conflict and did not really know how to turn these emotions and negative experiences into aspects I could learn from. A lot of this trauma was experienced at a young age and it was not until I was older that I began to realize how left out the conversation of mental health dwelled on me. I want young south Asians to realize how important it is to start mental health conversation early so they do not experience the same that I did growing up. Parents and guardians also need to find space to start having mental health conversations with their kids and youth when growing up so these conversations become a normal part of life. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health, this is why we share our strength, our SHAKTI.
Shakti wants to break the stigma associated with mental health by sharing perspectives, discussion and support.
Shakti aims to provide a space for South Asians who have gone through traumatic experiences by letting them know you have a community and sense of belonging here, we want to normalise this conversation in our culture.
We want to let south Asian's know that you are not alone in your battle. Shakti and our community are in your corner.
Our mission is to break the stigma associated with mental health in the South Asian/ Australian community. Mental health is a topic that largely goes unnoticed within the South Asian community for several reasons: cultural norms, stigmatization, lack of intergenerational discussion and trauma. We spotlight minority mental health by sharing perspectives, discussion, advocacy and support from the South Asian's within the community. Our aim is to break the stigma associated with mental health by sharing perspectives, discussion and support. There are many reasons South Asian's do not fluidly discuss these challenges, some of this includes generational trauma, a lack of communication, up bringing, societal pressure. Shakti aims to collaborate with the community and build a foundation in which mental health can be safely discussed.
#Shareyourshakti
TEAM
Who We Are
JAGESH PANCHAL
FOUNDER
Jagesh is passionate about promoting the South Asian perspective when it comes to mental health, Shakti was founded in 2018, to date Shakti has shared the perspectives of over 40 individuals from the South Asian diaspora sharing their take on mental health. As someone who has a lived experience of mental health, he wants to ensure others from minority and migrant communities have the support, understanding and awareness around them to create positive experiences.
Jagesh is a passionate youth worker, who is currently studying Master of International Relations and Master of Journalism and Monash university as someone who wants to support advocacy and human rights policy.
In he’s spare time he can be found playing basketball, creating half decent tiktoks, and cooking.
DEVIAN PANCHAL
I wanted to be involved in Shakti because i know first hand what it is like dealing with mental health in a South Asian household. God Bless my Parents, they gave me everything I needed to achieve in life but they didn't understand why I was feeling the way I was feeling. They told me "you have a roof over your head, a place to sleep, food to eat, you need to get more sleep and quit x y and z"
In 2016 I was diagnosed with dysthymia and its been an uphill ever since.
But I am doing well, I'm believing in myself again. I want to help provide a platform for South Asians where you can find comfort in trauma, where you can understand that its okay to feel the way your feeling, where you can understand that its okay to have these conversations within our culture.
When I'm not bridging gaps in mental health, you can find me consulting, playing basketball and cooking a few things here and there.
Thankyou for being part of our community.