Connecting for Indian community mental health
Australian Indians, and people with cultural connection to India, are invited to share their insights into mental health support, to help reduce social stigma.
The study, led by CQUniversity PhD candidate Nikki Thampy, aims to understand how the Indian community in Australia, representing nearly a million people, seeks help for mental issues.
She hopes to map cultural challenges, and effective interventions, around mental health support.
Nikki said she wants to understand where barriers have been reduced in Australian settings, and what issues still exist for Indian-background people needing support.
“Mental illness is a highly stigmatised topic within Indian communities, often leading to under-reporting and delayed treatment,” she explained.
“I am hoping that research in this area can help identify cultural factors and barriers that may influence access to mental health services and support, ultimately leading to more culturally sensitive and effective interventions.”
The survey is anonymous, and takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. Take the survey now.
Participants have a chance to win $100 gift cards for their participation, and must be of Indian descent, aged 18 years or older, and currently residing in Australia.
Nikki said respondents also have the opportunity to volunteer for the second phase of the study, and the opportunity to share more details of experiences.
Nikki, who graduated with her CQU Master of Clinical Psychology in 2021, said she had first-hand experience of mental health attitudes in Australia’s migrant communities.
Alongside her research, she works as a clinical psychologist in Melbourne.
“I work with clients from culturally diverse backgrounds, and regularly address issues such as personal identity and cultural acceptance,” she said.
With Indian heritage, growing up in Saudi Arabia, and moving to Australia 19 years ago, Nikki says different cultures, as well as different generations, had vastly different ways of managing mental health.
"Growing up, I was constantly balancing Eastern and Western values... (and) became particularly interested in how this dynamic played out in mental health," she said.
"While things have improved among Indian Australian communities, one thing that has consistently stood out to me is the deep connection between religion and mental health in India.
"I'm particularly curious about the role religion plays in mental health recovery, and it’s an area I’m eager to explore further in my PhD."
People aged 18 and over, living in Australia with Indian cultural heritage, can take the survey here.
Nikki's PhD supervisors are Dr Cassy Dittman, Associate Professor Catherine O'Mullan and Professor Chris Doran.
Discover opportunities for study and research at CQUniversity's Psychology, Social Work and Community Services website.
