Mental health awareness through storytelling & community dialogue |
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Monthly Spotlight
Silence Costs Lives. Stories & Conversations Save Them!
September was Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
“Every 40 seconds, someone dies by suicide (WHO)—and too often, it’s because the warning signs went unnoticed or the conversations never happened.” - Roopali Rajvanshy (Rcoz Founder)
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She Lost Her Sister to Suicide. Now She’s Speaking So Others Don’t Have To
“We didn’t miss the signs. It’s just that there was such a lack of awareness, stigma and shame around this.” - Hima Chintalapati
Growing up as immigrant kids, mental health was something no one talked about. Hima lost her sister to suicide at 30 after years of struggling with bipolar type 2. Now she is speaking up to share her sister’s story, the highs, the lows, and the challenges of stigma and shame that kept her from getting help sooner so others feel seen, heard, and less alone.
Watch her heartfelt story here: https://youtu.be/qmtWqvPMZog?feature=shared
From tragedy to action how one mother is starting conversations on suicide
“It’s the most awkward conversation you’ll ever have… but it’s far better than losing someone you love.” - Julie Taylor (Founder of Sam Taylor Foundation)
Julie Taylor knows why conversations matter. Just before Christmas, her son Sam died by suicide, a loss that forever changed her family. Refusing to let silence win, she founded the Sam Taylor Foundation to bring counseling, education, and lifesaving awareness to teens and young adults.
Watch the full story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7okGRMqR-t4
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SOCHNE KI BAAT (DID YOU KNOW?)
Globally, an estimated 700,000 people die by suicide each year (WHO). Many of these tragedies are preventable—but stigma keeps people from seeking help.
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Upcoming events
Oct 18 - Out of the Darkness Oakland Community Walk
Nov 6 -Rcoz South Asian Women’s Support Group, 11am-12pm
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SUKOON SHOTS (SHOTS OF PEACE)
October 10th is World Mental Health Day. Reach out, check in, or join a Support Group. Small actions can save lives.
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Devastating Impacts of Mental Health Stigma on South Asian Lives
By Anjum Khan
“Xyz, my eldest son, was quiet for the past few months. We thought it was just teenage issues, especially since he had finished his college applications. We had no idea he was silently struggling.”
Tragic, silent struggles are taking lives in the South Asian community often hidden behind cultural expectations, shame, and stigma. From high-achieving teens under immense pressure to adults suffering in silence, suicide is a growing crisis, yet too many never get the help they need. South Asian youth are at higher risk for suicidal thoughts, and mental health struggles are often masked as physical symptoms, making intervention even harder.
It’s time to talk about these struggles, recognize the warning signs, and prioritize mental well-being over cultural expectations.
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