Content note: This piece contains mentions of suicide and issues related to mental health.
This week, we learnt of the tragic death of one among us, 27-year-old Aishwarya Venkatachalam in Sydney. The authorities are currently investigating her death as one related to self-harm.The story is still unfolding and a precious little has been reported, but we are grieving her loss.
Aishwarya was an economic migrant working in corporate Australia, and it’s alleged that there may have been issues around corporate culture, workplace bullying and racism. Many of us might see our stories and experiences, or those of people we know, reflected in her person.
Not having all the facts doesn’t make this any easier to process, but grief is complex. “Grief is an uncomfortable feeling to experience, for most people it’s an emotion that’s actively avoided through distractions, numbing and straight up ignorance,” says Umeed Psychology’s Anushka Phal.
“Whether it’s individual or collective grief, acknowledging your emotions and sitting with them – not solving, at least not straight away – can be highly conducive to overall mental health and wellbeing.”
The events of the past week have reminded us how important it is to talk about mental health, especially within our community. We are now experiencing heightened rates of mental health disorders, and these conversations have yet to become normalised for South Asians.
We are South Asians. We exist in collectives, communities, family groups. Our society is communal and intergenerational. So we need to do better and show up more.
We need to check in with each other, and sit there long enough for something real to come out. We shouldn’t accept ‘log kya kahenge' (what will people say) as an excuse for naming something, or supporting someone. We need to support each other to change our community attitudes to mental health, and the cultures of our workplaces - because it’s both the people who speak out and the quiet ones who we really need to support.
Today is R U OK? Day. We acknowledge this conversation is bigger than just one day, but today is the day a conversation can start.
Note: SAARI Collective is not suggesting the work culture at the employer contributed to the employee’s death.
Resources
Griefline: 1300 845 745
Lifeline: 13 11 14
Informal Bereavement - Compassionate Friends
