South Asian Youth Mental Health Organization (SAYMH)
In the South Asian community, mental health remains a challenging topic to navigate. Cultural expectations, societal pressures, and the overall stigma around mental health can make it difficult for youth to share their experiences and seek support. The South Asian Youth Mental Health (SAYMH) Organization in Calgary was created by a group of passionate medical professionals to open up these conversations and empower South Asian youth to be leaders in their communities. It was generously funded by the AMA Emerging Leaders Grant.
I first joined SAYMH as an ambassador in its very first year in 2020, inspired by its mission to break down mental health stigma within our community. Since then, I have been part of the leadership team and am one of the team leads for the 2024 cohort, supporting new ambassadors as they bring their incredible new ideas. Over the past five years, SAYMH has brought together over 56 South Asian youth, aged 16-25, who are passionate about creating change in our community.
Each year, the Ambassador Program begins with a multi-day retreat, where ambassadors participate in workshops, talks, and discussions led by mental health professionals. These sessions help ambassadors build practical knowledge, leadership skills, and an understanding of the unique cultural factors that impact mental health in our community.
After the initial retreat, ambassadors take what they have learned and develop their own community-based outreach projects, each finding new ways to make mental health a more approachable topic. Over the years, SAYMH has launched many successful projects, with three more currently underway. Some examples of past projects include Team Allevate, a social media initiative that posted monthly graphics on various mental health topics relevant to the South Asian community, and Anxious Amrit, a children’s book following the story of a young boy, Amrit, as he learns to cope with anxiety. Another project, Gup Shup, is a children’s card game with prompts that encourage players to talk about their feelings and mental health. These projects were designed to engage youth and families, using relatable formats to break down barriers and make mental health a part of everyday conversations.
This year’s retreat also included a new event—a one-day symposium on Addictions in the South Asian Population, supported by The Friends of Matt Newell Endowment Fund. This symposium included presentations and panel discussions by physicians, mental health advocates, and community leaders, covering topics like addiction treatment, culturally sensitive care, and community resources. The event provided participants with a deeper understanding of addiction within a South Asian cultural context, combining expert insights with practical resources.
Ultimately, it is an honor to be a part of this organization. As a South Asian medical student, it is more important to me now more than ever to continue advocating for this cause—not only to set a good example for my future patients but also to help build a future where mental health discussions are normalized, taken seriously, and celebrated. Through SAYMH, we are fostering a future of healthcare that recognizes and respects the unique mental health needs of diverse communities.
