Dear reader

I learned from a very young age that expressing my authentic self in a creative manner would allow me to be the happiest and best version of myself. Like most Indian kids, I was always told that I would never create a career out of something so intangible. I was always someone who had a passion for something that came out of nowhere; I had to build upon wild and outlandish ideas to get to where I am today.

The Indian Standard was built to be a place for South Asians to feel heard. I wanted there to be an accurate representation of how we truly feel and for our thoughts to be recognized. So often in the media, we see the same tropes over and over again and I was inclined to challenge that. Being that we come from such a diverse area of the world, I feel that it is high time to bring some inclusivity.

 

mental health stories to & from south asians

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mental health stories to & from south asians ∙

OUR MISSIOn

Furthermore, mental health has always been a taboo topic in the SA Community. As it has Western connotations, we realize as we grow up that our immigrant parents weren’t taught this in school.  I truly believe that everything in our lives has an effect on our mental health therefore I wanted to shed light on topics I felt had a major influence on our development. This process has been nothing but a blessing for me.

I have learned so much about myself, the people that I have had the honor to interview, and mental health as a field of study. I can empathize that there are intricacies of growing up in the South Asian community, however, through this experience, I have truly understood how nuanced it can be. I hope reading this magazine will allow you to feel connected to your community and bring awareness to issues that we all experience.