Choi Chung, RPh, BSc Pharm
You wouldn’t hesitate to see a doctor for the flu, nor would you think twice about calling in a sick day if you had trouble standing on one leg. And yet, countless people with mental illnesses struggle in silence every day. The reason behind that is a lack of awareness, but fortunately, there are advocates for mental health out there that are speaking up for those who can’t. One of the values that we believe in is supporting these advocates and dispelling the stigma around mental health.
We’re fortunate enough to have Hina Khan talk about her personal experiences and offer some advice to our readers. Coming from a South Asian culture where mental health is often treated as a non-issue, Hina struggled to continue her post-secondary studies while dealing with anxiety and depression. Check out the interview below as she talks more about what she’s been through, and the perspective she has to offer for anyone experiencing anything similar!
#1 First off, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed Hina. Tell us a bit about yourself!
You’re welcome, I’m delighted to be a part of this. I’m Hina, I’m 22 years old and I am from a city called Wakefield, in West Yorkshire. I am currently in my final year of university studying BA Hons in criminology, at Manchester Metropolitan University.
#2 Can you tell us about why mental health is so important to you?
It’s important to me because I have friends that struggle with various mental illnesses. I’ve also struggled for many years with anxiety and depression and I’m very interested in how we deal with mental health. I also believe that your mental health is just as important as your physical health. “Train your mind as well as your body!!” I live by this quote.
#3 What inspired you to become a mental health advocate?
Suffering from anxiety & depression myself, initially, I was scared to speak up to my family because I thought they would look down on me. However, my brother who’s a social worker specializing in mental health provided me with the support I needed. Throughout my university career, he constantly stood behind me and gave me the motivation to continue my studies. Even though I’d already convinced myself I couldn’t keep going, he gave me that extra push I needed to keep moving forward, and the whole time, I felt comfortable coming to him with my struggles.
However, I know everyone isn’t as lucky as me to have someone close providing support. When I look around at the people close to me, I see people suffering from the same struggles I did, but I see their families responding with shame instead of compassion, which does nothing to help. The reason for this is that in South Asian communities, the topic of mental illness is still a taboo subject. Instead, mental health is often ignored or dismissed. I chose to become a mental health advocate because I felt like I needed to represent the Asian community and people of my age to provide support and understanding. I’m now working on a new initiative to raise more mental health awareness to the general public.
#4 What is one of the top pieces of health advice you’d like to share with the public?
Here’s a self-care tip for you to start taking action immediately. While social media can be a great tool to connect with like-minded individuals, it can also work against you by setting unrealistic expectations. This can cause feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem that would otherwise not have a chance to flourish. Be mindful of both who you’re following and the message you’re allowing yourself to receive. If they’re constantly making you feel like you’re not good enough, its time to take action and find more positive influences.
#5 Where can our audience reach you if they have any further questions for you?
They can reach me out to me via email:
hinakhan08096@gmail.com or on my Instagram page: hina_khnx where I share information on different mental illnesses and spread positivity every day. Don’t be afraid to say hello!
We hope you took away something valuable from this piece. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this article or others, feel free to reach out to us on Instagram, Facebook, or at ask@orbishealth.ca with your feedback. We’d love to hear from you.
