South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey (SAMHAJ) seeks to provide support, education and advocacy for South Asians affected by serious mental illness. South Asians of Asian Indian and Pakistani origin, as well as those from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives are welcome to seek support and information from SAMHAJ.

SAMHAJ SELF-HELP GROUPS

SAMHAJ self-help group for South Asian families in New Jersey: This is a group of family members of individuals with serious mental illnesses that meets once a month for support and information. The group meets on the 1st Thursday of the month at the NAMI NEW JERSEY office, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick, NJ 08902.

SAMHAJ Peer Support group meeting for mental health consumers: This group is for individuals of South Asian descent who are coping with serious mental illnesses. The group also meets on the 1st Thursday of the month at the NAMI NEW JERSEY office, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick, NJ 08902.

EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS

Asha's Journey (comic book)

SAMHAJ has published Asha's Journey, a comic book account of a young Indian-American woman's struggle with bipolar disorder. This comic book was illustrated by Theodore Riddle, an artist with bipolar disorder himself, and shows how individuals and families can cope with the issue of serious mental illness, and hope for recovery with the right kind of treatment and support.

EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS

The Immigrant Experience - A Special Screening and Discussion of
The Namesake - March 7, 2008. 7-10 pm

On March 7, 2008, SAMHAJ screened the critically acclaimed film The Namesake, followed by a discussion facilitated by therapist Dr. Anita McLean.

The Namesake is a moving and empathetic film that portrays the Indian immigrant experience, and provides a fertile background for a discussion of the emotional and mental health aspects of immigration. To learn more about this film, click here.

On June 15, 2007, SAMHAJ (South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey) helped support South Asian Community and Disabilities: Raising Awareness, Facing Challenges, Accessing Resources, in partnership with the South Asian Health project and five leading disability advocacy groups, the Elizabeth M. Boggs Centre on Developmental Disabilities, New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities, and UMDNJ-Office of Academic and Clinical Initiatives. Click here to read the press release.

An important aspect of the conference was the presence of family members, caregivers, and individuals living with disabilities who spoke on the morning panel, sharing their stories of recovery, struggle and courage.

           

                                  Family Panel                                Aruna Rao, NAMI NJ Director of Educational Programs

SAMHAJ Celebration

Each year, SAMHAJ offers an opportunity for members and supporters to come together and celebrate our community of support and share stories of courage and hope. The event highlights the fact that finding support and comfort in your own community is an important part of wellness and recovery.

Click to view pictures of SAMHAJ Celebration on Dec. 6, 2007, Dec. 7, 2006, Dec. 1, 2005, and Dec. 2, 2004.

SAMHAJ in the News

Speaking out - advocating for South Asians with special needs (DesiNJ) - Friday, December 14, 2007
Offering succor to the mentally ill, caregivers (India in New York) - Friday, April 20, 2007
The Stubborn Shadow -Desis and depression: Do we ignore it? (India Abroad Magazine) - March 18, 2005
South Asian teens discuss growing up in America (The Trenton Times) - June 2004

SAMHAJ in the Community

January 2007 - Community Awareness Day, Herbert Hoover Middle School, Edison, NJ.
April 2007 - SAMHAJ booth at Edison Family Day
September 1 & 2, 2007 – SAMHAJ information booth at Indo-American Fair 2007 in Mercer County Park

Celestial Motions

SAMHAJ partnered with the Indian American Civic Forum to stage “Celestial Motions” an intercultural comedy on September 26, 2005. The performance was enthusiastically received. Click here to view pictures.

SAMHAJ Film Discussion Series

On Friday, April 21, 2006, the first film featured in the SAMHAJ Film Discussion Series was "15 Park Avenue", directed by Aparna Sen and starring Shabana Azmi. The SAMHAJ Film Discussion series will show films relating to mental illness several times during the year in Central New Jersey, and feature an expert speaker to discuss issues raised by the film. Read more...

Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega Woh Gaana Gayega
- Emotion in Indian Film Songs

South Brunswick Senior Center - July 7, 2005
Sadhu Vaswani Center - July 17, 2005
South Amboy Senior Center - October 3, 2005

These entertaining as well as informative lectures sponsored by SAMHAJ were intended to help South Asian seniors gain some insight into the mental health issues that they are facing as recent immigrants in the US. The lectures were facilitated by Dr. Jagdish Dang, a geriatric psychiatrist, medical director and chairman of Department of Psychiatry at Barnert hospital in Paterson, NJ.

SAMHAJ Team Walks for Freedom from Stigma against Mental Illness

SAMHAJ self-help group members participated in the NAMI NEW JERSEY Walk for Freedom from Stigma at the Liberty State Park on October 10, 2004. This unprecedented effort to raise awareness about mental illness attracted over 3000 walkers, and raised money for NAMI NJ's work in supporting families and individuals coping with mental illness.

Photo Album of SAMHAJ Team in 2004 NAMI NJ Walk

Adjusting to Life in America, an educational workshop for Asian Seniors

This workshop, held on August 6, 2004, helped to explore the challenges that Asian senior citizens face in adjusting to American culture. Dr. McLean and Aruna Rao discussed several issues like language barriers, loneliness, immigrant stress that are often not acknowledged or understood.

Bridging the Gap: Raising Indian Children in America

This workshop aimed to help the South Asian parents gain some insights into bridging the cultural divide that rises between them and their American born children. This workshop was the second in a series of three in 2004, sponsored by NAMI NEW JERSEY's SAMHAJ program and the Indian American Civic Forum. These workshops are intended to increase awareness about mental health and well being among South Asian immigrants. Click here to read more. This SAMHAJ event was covered in the Trenton Times. To see full article click here.

The Other Side of the Bed: Lessons on Enhancing our Relationships

On a sunny afternoon on Saturday, April 10, a group of South Asians in West Windsor township in New Jersey laughed and sighed their way through an entertaining and informative workshop ...... Click here to read more.

SAMHAJ Advisory Committee Formed

The The SAMHAJ Advisory Committee met for the first time on 2/25/03. This dynamic group of professionals and families guided the implementation of SAMHAJ goals in 2003. If you are a mental health professional. family member or consumer interested in serving on this committee, please contact Aruna Rao at the NAMI NJ office.