Amrita Sandhu's Story: ​

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A major barrier for those suffering from mental health problems is the stigma surrounding such issues. Stereotypical and taboo-like thinking is further emphasized in certain cultural groups. Amongst the diaspora of East-Indians in Canada there is a definite existence of such closed-minded and ill-informed beliefs.

 

I wove mental illness stigma into my South Asian fiction novel titled Chasing Kismet because I have always been passionate about dispelling such misinformed thinking. I believe it's important to advocate for those suffering in silence. All too often issues are swept under the rug and those in need fall by the wayside. If only our culture could learn to speak about that which we fear or misunderstand, we'd be able to help ourselves and our kin.