NAMI NEW JERSEY programs: samhaj
(South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey)
South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey (SAMHAJ)
provides 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 provides:
• Support for families and individuals affected by mental illness through support groups, and referrals to bilingual and culturally competent mental health services. We offer a supportive environment to help you and your family to learn to navigate the often complicated mental health system. Our South Asian staff and volunteers speak Hindi, Kannada, Konkani, and Marathi.
• Educational workshops and lectures on issues that are important to your family’s journey towards recovery. Workshops cover subjects such as psychiatric medication, social security disability, rehabilitation and vocational training, coping with caregiver stress and anxiety, children’s mental health and many more topics.
• Workshops for mental health providers, other social service agencies and schools seeking to learn more about the rapidly growing South Asian community in New Jersey in order to provide culturally competent services.
• Volunteer opportunities for people interested in giving back to the community through service.
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 locations are:
• 1st Thursday of the month at the NAMI NEW JERSEY office, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick, NJ 08902
• One evening a month at the North Edison library at 777 Grove Avenue, Edison NJ 08820. This support group generally meets on the 1st Monday evening of the month in 2012, with the following exceptions: May 14, August 13, September 17 and December 10. To confirm group meetings, please call 732 940 0991 or email samhaj@naminj.org.
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 meets on the 1st Thursday of the month at the NAMI NEW JERSEY office, 1562 Route 130, North Brunswick, NJ 08902.
SAMHAJ Received National Award as a ChangeMaker for 2011
Aruna Rao, Associate Director of NAMI NEW JERSEY, accepted the ChangeMaker Award on behalf of NAMI NJ's SAMHAJ program at the South Asian Summit 2011, on April 1, 2011.
The award was presented by SAALT (South Asian Americans Leading Together) as part of their campaign, An American for All of Us, marking the 10-year anniversary of September 11, this year. The award was specifically designed to recognize the contributions of one individual or one organization that has helped raise the voices of the South Asian American community, specifically over the last decade.
The South Asian Summit is a national conference to raise issues concerning South Asian communities, and collectively strategize for solutions and future collaborations. SAALT is a national, nonpartisan, non-profit organization that elevates the voices and perspectives of South Asian individuals and organizations to build a more just and inclusive society in the United States.
The ChangeMaker Award process involved the submission of numerous nominations, which were sent to an independent review committee outside of SAALT, which unanimously selected SAMHAJ as one of the ChangeMakers for 2011.
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 serious
mental illness, and hope for recovery with the right kind
of treatment & support.
SAMHAJ is presenting an ongoing mental health series in collaboration with
public libraries in New Jersey to educate the South Asian community on mental health issues. These informal and informative Q & A sessions are intended to provide a stigma free environment for community members to learn more and seek resources.
Previous Events:
• SAMHAJ observed Mental Illness Awareness Week during the first week of October 2011 with a series of lectures, featuring Mood Disorders, Child and Teen Mental Health and Coping with Stress in Your Daily Life, at the
Plainsboro
Public Library in Plainsboro, NJ. Featured speakers included psychiatrists Dr. Sanjay Varma, Dr. Bindu Khanna, psychologist Dr. Priyanka Upadhyaya and mental health advocate Shrabanee Shah.
• On May 21, 2011, SAMHAJ organized an educational event "Understanding Mental Health - Ask the Experts!", where mental health experts, including psychiatrist Dr. Bindu Khanna and Psychologist Dr. Priyanka Upadhya
answered questions and provided information to South Asian families. Topics discussed included stress, anxiety and depression, children's and adult mental health, as well as resources for coping and understanding of these issues.
Mental health
advocates Priya Gopalan and Aruna Rao provided
educational material and
information on local resources, including a new self-help group for caregivers
of those affected by mental illness in Edison.
This May event
observed Mental Health Month and Asian American Heritage month.
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.
Shot in New York City and New Jersey, Hiding Divya tells the story of three generations of women and the taboos created in the South Asian American community from mental illness in the family. Inspired by true stories, the English-language drama is the debut feature from sister filmmakers Rehana Mirza (writer/director) and Rohi Mirza Pandya (producer) and stars Pooja Kumar (Bollywood Hero, Sita Sings the Blues), Deep Katdare (American Desi), and veteran actress Madhur Jaffrey (Cotton Mary, Shakespeare-Wallah) as Divya. The soundtrack features works by established artists such as DJ Rekha and several emerging South Asian muscians, including two original songs composed by Samrat Chakrabarti - 'Lost' (performed by Meetu Chilana) and 'Help Me to Find' (performed by Manu Narayan).
Disha - A Journey
of Hope
SAMHAJ
held an evening of celebration to benefit the program on March
22, 2009, at North Brunswick Township High School.
Over 200 community members gathered to show their support
for the cause, and to enjoy an evening of entertainment that
included elegant Kathak and Bharatanatyam dance by Neha Sehgal
and the Shishya School of Performing Arts, and lively popular
music by Central Jersey singers Hidden Gems.
The Immigrant Experience
- A Special Screening and Discussion of
The Namesake
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.
South
Asian Community and Disabilities Conference:
Raising Awareness, Facing Challenges, Accessing Resources
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 Associate Director
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.
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
The SAMHAJ Advisory Committee is a dynamic group of professionals and families
who has helped guiding the implementation of SAMHAJ goals through the years. If you
are a mental health professional, family member or consumer
interested in serving on this committee, contact Aruna
Rao at (732) 940-0991.
Past Educational
Events of SAMHAJ
May 14-16, 2009 - SAMHAJ staff were presenters at a conference
titled "What is Ailing U.S.? - Immigration and Health
- Access and Barriers" that was held at the Princeton
University and included an audience of medical practitioners,
advocates, administrators, representatives of community organizations,
and researchers.
May 17, 2009 - SAMHAJ staff member presented at the "Annual
Community Health Seminar" hosted by the Indian American
Civic Forum in West Windsor, NJ.
April 2, 2009 - "Overview of Psychotropic Medications"-
a special presentation by Raquel Rahim, APN, Clinical Nurse
Specialist, Bayonne Community Mental Health Center.
March 16, 2009- SAMHAJ collaborated with SAALT and co-sponsored
"South Asian Advocacy Day" which took place at the
State House in Trenton, NJ. Several SAMHAJ family members
and a SAMHAJ staff member met with representatives from their
respective districts and made them aware of mental health
issues affecting the South Asian community in New Jersey.
October 2, 2008 - "Accessing Social Security Benefits
for persons with mental disabilities"- an Information
session. Presentation by Vaneetha Srinivasan, Management Support
Specialist-Social Security Administration.
August 30 & 31, 2008 - SAMHAJ staff & volunteers staffed
an information booth at the Annual Indo American Fair 2008
held at the Mercer County Park in West Windsor, NJ. An estimated
75,000 people attended this fair.
June 18, 2008 - SAMHAJ member presented a workshop at the
UMDNJ - School of Social Work in Chester NJ in order to sensitize
students to issues faced by the South Asian community.
May 8, 2008 - SAMHAJ members presented at a community forum
in Millstone Township in Monmouth County. The forum focused
on the stigma associated with mental illness. SAMHAJ members
also spoke extensively on the topic of how stigma associated
with mental illness affects the South Asian community in New
Jersey.
May 31, 2008 - SAMHAJ members were part of a panel presentation
at the Hoboken Film Festival where NAMI NJ's documentary "Documenting
Our Presence: Multicultural Experiences of Mental Illness"
was shown.
April 3, 2008 - "Consumer and family involvement in treatment
- HIPAA regulations and Advanced Directives for Mental Health
Care".
An informative discussion led by Phil Lubitz, Director of
Advocacy Programs, NAMI NJ.
March 6, 2008 - "Stress Management in Your Daily Life"-
an interactive workshop by Sangeetha Nayak, Ph. D.
January 29, 2008 - SAMHAJ staff member participated in a community
forum on New Jersey's South Asian community. SAMHAJ collaborated
with South Asian American Leaders of Tomorrow (SAALT) &
Manavi in this initiative to raise awareness of mental health
issues among the South Asian community.
October 4, 2007 - "Special Needs Trust"- an Information
session. Presentation by Herbert D. Hinkle, Attorney at Law.
November 1, 2007 - "Diabetes and Mental Illness - The
Importance of a Holistic View"-An interactive workshop
by Meena Murthy, M.D., Director of Diabetes Care and Control
Center.
July 12, 2007 - Special presentation by Aparna Balasundaram,
L.C.S.W. entitled "Taking Care of Your Self as a Caregiver",
followed by a Q&A session.
May 3, 2007 - "Introduction to Evidenced - Based Mental
Health Practices" an educational presentation by Michelle
R. Zechner, MSW, LSW from the Behavioral Research & Training
Institute, UMDNJ-UBHC.
June 7, 2007 - "Mental Health Resources in New Jersey"
- A special presentation by Jeanne Schmidt, Family Specialist,
at the Intensive Family Support Services, UMDNJ-UBHC.
August 3, 2006 - "How to help your loved one in crisis"
an educational presentation by Parantap Pandya, intake counselor
at Emergency Psychiatric Services, Muhlenberg Hospital.
September 7, 2006 - "Ask the Doctor" a Question
& Answer session with Dr. Vasudev Makhija, M.D., a South
Asian Psychiatrist.
May 5, 2006 - an educational presentation on "Coping
& Resources for Families Affected by Serious Mental Illness"
was presented by Aparna Balasundaram, MSW and Lead Primary
Therapist at the Carrier Clinic.
June 1, 2006 - an educational presentation on "What is
Psychotherapy?" was presented by Aparna Balasundaram,
MSW and Lead Primary Therapist at the Carrier Clinic.
Feb. 2, 2006 - Educational presentation on "Medicare,
Medicaid & Drug Benefits Changes -With an orientation
towards individuals with a Mental Illness Disability"
by Phil Lubitz, Director of Advocacy Programs, NAMI NJ.
NAMI
NEW JERSEY is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to improving
the lives of individuals and families who are affected by mental
illness.
South Asian Mental Health Awareness in Jersey (SAMHAJ)
provides 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.
Click
here to view the 
SAMHAJ
held an evening of celebration to benefit the program on March
22, 2009, at North Brunswick Township High School.
