Mental wellbeing is extremely overlooked and there is limited research about South Asian mental health making it all the more important. Many people in this community don't believe mental health is a ‘real’ issue. It's often seen as a weakness and not as something that can actually be dangerous and life threatening. As a South Asian, I’ve witnessed how conversations around mental health are often met with shame, denial, or complete silence. Many cultural factors play a part in this stigma. Studies show that Asian patients have displayed signs of psychological illness $^1$. Language, age, culture, and gender in the South Asian community is heavily influential on mental health and prevents people from seeking help$^1$. There is an urgent need for increased awareness in the South Asian population to educate individuals on the harmful effects of neglecting mental wellbeing. Future efforts should take into account culturally specific measures in order to cater to the South Asian community and their mental health. By expanding mental health education across all populations, future generations are not trapped in the same cycle of silence and stigma.

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  1. Kramer et al.