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

Click here to view the SAMHAJ highlight of the "Documenting Our Presence: Multicultural Experiences of Mental Illness", an educational video by NAMI NJ. (Click here for more information about the complete video.)

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 serious mental illness, and hope for recovery with the right kind of treatment & support.

EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND EVENTS

Disha - A Journey of Hope

SAMHAJ held an evening of celebration to benefit the program on March 22, 2009, at the North Brunswick Township High School Auditorium.

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.

Click here to see a short video of the event highlights.    » More...

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.

SAMHAJ celebrated the end of another year of mental health support, advocacy, and education with an elegant dinner for families, consumers and friends at Royal Alberts Palace in Fords on December 4, 2008.

Click to view pictures of SAMHAJ Celebration on Dec. 3, 2009, Dec. 4, 2008, Dec. 6, 2007, Dec. 7, 2006, Dec. 1, 2005, and Dec. 2, 2004.

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 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.

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.