A poll by NHS England has found that 3 in 5 people (64%) from a South Asian background have felt concerned about their mental health in the last year. 

Over 2 in 5 (42%) of those asked, said that they have experienced depression, and just under 3 in 10 (29%) have experienced generalised anxiety disorder. 

However, the responses also reveal that just under two thirds (65%) of South Asians who have accessed professional help for an anxiety disorder or depression said they saw an improvement in their mental health.

The NHS is encouraging anyone struggling with feelings of depression, or anxiety such as excessive worry, panic attacks, social anxiety, post-traumatic stress, or obsessions and compulsions, to seek help through NHS Talking Therapies services. 

Anyone struggling with feelings of depression or anxiety can seek help through an NHS Talking Therapies service and get back on track.

Ummar Sadique (pictured above), Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, said: “As an NHS accredited Talking Therapist, I notice that men from the community are far less likely to seek help from therapy than women are. 

I think it’s an ingrained part of our culture, but it’s something I’d really like to see changing. With Talking Therapies you have the opportunity to talk to someone completely independent, and in confidence, so you don’t have to be embarrassed about opening up. There are more people using the service than you may think. “

He added: “As a community we need to start seeing mental health as an essential part of our overall health. You’d go to see a doctor or a specialist if you had stomach pains, for example, and it shouldn’t be any different if your mental health is suffering.” 

Following some traumatic experiences in her life, Harmeet referred herself for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) through NHS Talking Therapies. She has since gone back to the service several times and regularly uses the methods that she has learned from it, to help her with day-to-day challenges. 

Harmeet said: “Talking Therapies helped pull me out of the dark hole I found myself in. By reaching out for help, especially to someone who is independent and totally non-judgmental, I was able to share what felt heavy and release the weight I had been carrying. I can’t shout about it enough – my mental health is better than ever before.”  

When asked in the survey, 56% of South Asians did not know that they could refer themselves to NHS Talking Therapies online to access treatment for anxiety and depression. 

You don’t need to have a diagnosed mental health problem to refer yourself to an NHS Talking Therapies service, and you can choose whether to refer yourself online, or to ask your GP to refer you. 

For those whose first language is not English, talking therapies can be delivered through multi-lingual therapists or through confidential interpreters. The service is available for anyone over 18 who are registered with a GP.

Kiran Bal, HICBT Therapist, said: “If you think you may be struggling with depression or anxiety, NHS Talking Therapies may be able to help, it’s a free and confidential service. 

Talking therapies is tailored to your specific needs, and you can either refer yourself to the service or discuss it with your GP first – whichever feels more comfortable for you. 

As therapists, we are specifically trained in offering evidence-based treatment to support people with their mental health difficulties, and I have seen first-hand the benefits of this service for many of my patients.”