In today’s world, a lot of emphasis is placed on physical wellness and fitness, maintaining good health, food and nutrition. Less importance is given to mental health and wellness. At this time we are seeing an increase in mental issues, and the disruptions in daily living that go along with it. There is a certain stigma attached to such issues, which are often swept under the rug. To address such issues, Hindu Women’s Network held an online webinar on March 22, 2025.

The webinar began by a welcome by Jaya Asthana, secretary of Hindu Women’s Network (HWN). She welcomed the audience, and spoke about the history of Indian immigrants, their struggles with assimilation, passing on their traditions to the next generation, and issues that the current and next generation faced.

Two young singers from Cincinnati, Ohio, Aanvi and Aanya, ages 13 and 10, sang a beautiful Saraswati Bhajan, to set the tone for the program. They have been learning Hindustani classical music for 3 years.

Smita Daftardar was the moderator of the program. She talked about HWN and what it stands for, its mission and vision, and then introduced Anika Sivasankar, another young singer from Massachusetts. Anika is in 11^th grade and has been learning Carnatic music since she was in kindergarten. She sang a melodious Ganesh Vandana. Both musical interludes were highly appreciated by the audience.

Smita then introduced the three panelists, Dr. Kalika Uttarkar, a psychology and yoga counsellor and a faculty member of Hindu University of America, Julia Saldanha, a Program Director at NAMI, Ohio, and Dr. Sampada Vaidya, a Certified Instructor at NAMI, where she teaches support groups, among other things. She then led the panelists through a series of questions that brought out the expertise of all the panelists in their fields.

All three panelists spoke very eloquently on the many facets of mental health, social issues, taboos in society, treatment options both from a medical and spiritual or dharmic perspective, and many other topics affecting immigrant Indian families.

Sampada ji talked about mental health being seen as a weakness, and that people suffering from depression were often told to “snap out of it.” She spoke of the lack of communication between parents and children, which could be a factor contributing to stress and ultimately leading to depression and/or anxiety. Families avoid talking about these issues, which may have implications on relationships and family communication systems. There is also a gender bias, with men being seen as “strong and able to tough it out”, and women not caring for themselves, thinking that they need to put the family first. She also gave information on resources and how to access help, and to encourage people to not hesitate in seeking help.

Julia ji talked about her own experiences, going through post-partum depression, and not talking about it until her daughter as an adult asked about it. Lack of family connections and support also plays into this delay in acknowledging that a problem exists. Parents feel that they have somehow failed their child, or attribute it to “their karma”. There are also cultural issues at play, such as a lack of Indian mental health providers, and people delaying seeking help due to this. She also talked about teaching children coping skills and not just focusing on academics.

Kalika ji discussed the Hindu view, and that Hindu philosophy does not need to be in contradiction with seeking help from western practitioners. Parents often don’t know their own traditions and cannot answer questions that their children may have. The home environment should be about learning and communication.

She also presented many interesting facts about ancient Hindu practices in the context of modern medicine. Research shows that chanting activates the vagus nerve which regulates the parasympathetic nerve, leading to reduced stress and anxiety. Chanting Om activates the pre-frontal cortex and the limbic system, which can control emotions. Speaking in Sanskrit, which is the language of Mantras, activates both left brain and right brain, which in turn improves intelligence levels and connects us with our divinity.

These discussions were followed by a Question-and-Answer session, which was expertly managed by Shobha Patel. Viewers put their questions in the chat box, which the panelists answered. Several of the questions revolved around how to recognize symptoms of depression, and finding resources.

Veena Katdare gave the vote of thanks, thanking the panelists for their wonderful insights. The closing prayer was led by Sheela Kene, a senior member of the HWN team.

Hindu Women’s Network (HWN) gives a voice to the Hindu women’s perspective on contemporary issues affecting all women.  HWN develops programs for holistic physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual development. HWN’s goal is to form a vibrant network of Hindu women to promote collaboration and communication at local, national, and international levels.

For more information or to start a chapter of Hindu Women’s Network in your area, please visit https://hinduwomennetwork.org/

If you missed the program, the video is available at the link below:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1G8qix0N5u45OJJgBtjUQKtkzUANAB66f/view?usp=drive_link

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