Back when Sonu Pudasaini was contemplating ending her own life, she felt reluctant to ask for help by the fear she would be labelled a "psycho" or "mad" by the Nepali community.
"Every morning I used to wake up with a heavy heart and my day used to start with tears rolling down my face," she told SBS Nepali.
"The feeling of loss was so vivid."
After arriving in Australia as an international student from Nepal in 2014, Ms Pudasaini said "everything had been fine" while she was undertaking her Masters in Accounting.
It was in the lull that came following the successful completion of her degree when she began to struggle. This was partially due to constant stress about her visa status.
The pressure from worrying about her eligibility for Australia's Permanent Residency program was intensifying.
"Every morning I used to wake up with a heavy heart and my day used to start with tears rolling down my face."
Yet despite the war being waged inside her, Ms Pudasaini said during this period she was able to present an outward appearance of confidence and humour to those around her.
She quickly grew weaker and wanted to withdraw more and more from social activities, as she struggled to understand how the world was able to keep turning and the people around her could be so happy while she felt so miserable and like something was missing from her life.
With constant suicidal thoughts, Ms Pudasaini started to think of ways to end her life. Her family and friends wanted her to seek help but she couldn't muster the courage. She feared what people would say. What if her community labelled her "mad"?
Eventually, her poor appetite and lack of sleep wore her down. She came to the realisation she needed help and dragged herself to hospital. The ten minute walk there was the longest one of her life.
But the torture involved in the journey there immediately paid off.
"All the negative thoughts I had while walking to the hospital vanished as soon as I entered the hospital," she said.
"Everyone involved in my counselling and treatment sessions were very professional and helpful." And within just six counselling sessions, she started to see change.
Since her recovery, Ms Pudasaini has become aware how close she was to tragedy. She was able to save herself by actively seeking support, but she knows not everyone can pull themselves out of the pit of despair - especially those within her own community where mental health is rarely openly discussed.
Sonu Pudasaini talking to SBS Nepali Source: Sunita Pokharel
“If you think your mental [health] has changed.... in a negative sense, please go get help," she urged.
If she hadn’t consulted professionals when she did, she believes she wouldn't be alive today.
Mental health and the migrant community
Sydney-based psychiatrist and Nepali-Australian community member, Dr Ghanashyam Chapagain, believes many Nepalis have a tendency to disregard mental illness in its primary stage and seek help only when the problem becomes severe and complicated. Added to this, is the additional obstacle migrants on visas face in seeking mental health treatment when they believe it will affect their residency.
"Many Nepalis with temporary visa status fear a negative impact on their visa if they come forward with any illness," Dr Chapagain told SBS Nepali.
However, he stressed, there is no correlation between mental health and visas, and believes the Australian government encourages everyone to take care of their mental wellbeing.
Dr Chapagain also added that, despite the increasingly prevalent belief that Nepalis were overrepresented among mental health patients, the issue was in fact widespread across communities everywhere.
Source: iStockphoto
In 2016 the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that people born overseas who spoke a language other than English at home were . Of this group, just six percent of people aged 15 to 54 sought assistance compared to 10.9 percent of people born in Australia who spoke English at home.
Head of the Global and Cultural Mental Health Unit at Melbourne University, Professor Harry Minas there are multiple barriers stopping people from seeking mental health help.
“The level of stigma and shame attached to mental illness can be very high particularly in some communities; families may be reluctant to acknowledge that a family member has a mental problem because they are concerned about the implications of acknowledging this. And therefore, keep the problem for themselves, and maybe very reluctant to seek outside mental health help.”
Community problem needs community support
Lisa Woodland, the manager at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), agrees that it isn't just Nepali migrants in Australia dealing with the issue. Ms Woodland, who manages the centre's Priority Populations program, told SBS Nepali the apparent increase in the number of patients seeking mental health support shouldn't be contributed to an assumption that mental health issues in Nepali community have increased.
“As the population of Nepali community increases, so do the cases," she said.
She also emphasised the importance of family, friends and the community as a whole in combating mental illness.
“Community engagement is the most important thing in mental health issues, and we can provide support through clinical services or community engagement," she said, adding that the district health department was able to assist patients from all cultural backgrounds in different languages, including Nepali.
Mental health professionals urge those who notice a change in the behaviour or mood of a loved one to initiate them opening up.
"It can be a family member or friend; a compassionate ear to listen to the problem is early intervention," Dr Chapagain said.
"It can be treating the person with love and compassion, spending time [with them] and even seeking professional help".
If you are the one seeking support, help for issues around mental health can be sought through a GP in Australia who will then direct you to the right place. Students should approach their study centre or counsellor.
Dr Chapagain further advised that, if the problem is severe and immediate support is required, people should call triple zero (000) or visit the emergency department of the nearest hospital.
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