Mental health isn’t something we openly talk about in the Sikh community. It’s not that struggles don’t exist—they do. Depression, anxiety, grief, trauma, addiction—they are all there. But for too long, these struggles have been dismissed, hidden, or misunderstood.
When someone tries to open up, they are often met with the same responses. Just be grateful, others have it worse. Stop overthinking, do more Simran. There’s no such thing as depression, just toughen up. These words might be meant to encourage, but they leave people feeling unheard, isolated, and ashamed of their struggles.
I have seen it so many times. People battling silent wars with no space to talk about what they are going through. A mother struggling with depression after childbirth but being told to snap out of it and be strong for the kids. A young person suffering from panic attacks but hearing just do Ardaas, everything will be fine. A father numbing his stress with alcohol because men don’t cry. Mental health is often brushed aside, disguised as tension or pareshani, temporary stress rather than something that needs support.
So why is it that in our families, mental health is rarely taken seriously?
I get it. The older generations grew up in environments where survival came first. They didn’t have the space to sit down and process emotions. Many of them migrated, worked long hours, and carried heavy responsibilities just to provide for their families. Talking about mental health wasn’t an option, they simply got on with it. But that silence has now been passed down, and it’s causing damage.
One of the biggest barriers to seeking help is the fear of log ki kahenge, what will people say? Many people suffer in silence because they are afraid of how they will be judged. Seeking help is seen as a weakness, something that might bring shame to the family. Mental health struggles are often dismissed, leaving people feeling like they just need to be stronger. But silence doesn’t heal anything.
Another common belief is that Simran alone will fix everything. I have heard it so many times. You’re anxious? Just do more Paath. You’re depressed? Read more Sukhmani Sahib. You have PTSD? Go to the Gurdwara more often. And yes, Gurbani is powerful. Naam Simran heals. Sangat uplifts. But mental health conditions are real, and just like we seek medical help for physical illnesses, we need professional support for mental health too. If someone has diabetes, we wouldn’t tell them to just pray more and stop taking insulin. So why do we tell people struggling with depression or anxiety to just do more Paath and avoid therapy? Faith and therapy are not separate. Gurbani teaches us to care for our well-being, to seek knowledge, and to use the tools Waheguru has provided, including professional support.
So how do we break the stigma? We start talking about it. We have open conversations about mental health in our families, in Gurdwaras, and within our community. We challenge the idea that mental health struggles mean someone is weak or lacking faith. We need to move beyond log ki kahenge and focus on what actually matters, helping each other heal.
We also need to make therapy more accessible and normalised. Many people don’t seek help because they feel a therapist won’t understand their faith or culture. But South Asian therapists exist, and more professionals are recognising the need for culturally competent therapy. Finding the right support, whether faith-based or not, can make all the difference.
And finally, we need to reframe mental health as Seva for ourselves. Just like we do Seva for others, taking care of our mental health is a form of Seva for ourselves. We cannot give to others if we are running on empty. When we take care of ourselves, we are better able to help those around us.
Mental health struggles do not make anyone weak, and seeking help does not mean someone lacks faith. Sikhi is about courage, resilience, and self-awareness. Breaking the stigma around mental health is not just necessary; it is in line with our values. It’s time to end the silence. It’s time to support each other, to listen without judgement, and to create a community where no one has to struggle alone.
