Community group eases mental struggles
SOUL KNIT SUPPORTS PEOPLE WHO CAN’T AFFORD PROFESSIONAL HELP
Acommunity group in Abu Dhabi is helping raise awareness and offering support to people struggling with mental health issues. It organises monthly events for individuals to speak about the challenges they face.
“There is a stigma attached to mental health problems. A lot of people often don’t want to talk about it or suffer in silence. Our goal is to create a safe and non-judgmental environment where they can come and talk about their struggles,” said Aditi Bhatia, 24, one of the founders of Soul Knit.
Bhatia said the group’s events are open to anyone struggling with mental health issues. It also gives people the chance to meet others facing the same problems.
“At our meetings, we give everyone the opportunity to talk. Issues range from feeling depressed and anxious, family issues, or getting bullied at school. Everyone has their own reason for why they are facing mental health problems. Our role is to listen to them and provide whatever support we can.
“Another positive of having such a group is that it connects people. It lets them know that they are not alone, that there are others out there also struggling. Often times, people going through mental health issues ■ feel isolated and that they’re the only ones facing such struggles. We hope that they can draw strength and inspiration from one another,” she added.
Bhatia said the group’s members are diverse. “Around 50 people come to our events and they are of several nationalities. Most of our attendees are between 15 and 25 years old. They are, in fact, the most vulnerable as well because they don’t have the wherewithal to seek help.”
Learning from experience
Ayinka Weerasinghe, 18, the other co-founder of the group, said she herself coped with mental health struggles.
“When I was going through difficult times, I found it really hard to ask for help, and professional medical services were too expensive. There are a lot of young people who face the same situation, and that motivated me to start Soul Knit.
“Talking about mental ■ health issues and being able to share your feelings about what you’re going through is important. When I had nobody to reach out to, it made my situation harder,” she added.
“Soul Knit has become like my second home. It’s a place where I can learn from others and also share my own experiences. We can talk to each other without the fear of being judged,” Weerasinghe said.
The group is also planning to form links with medical clinics to offer support mental health support.
“That’s our next plan: we want to contact and establish partnerships with medical clinics offering support and professional help. That way, if someone comes to us and asks for professional help, we can always refer them to these clinics and hospitals,” said Bhatia.
Soul Knit can be found online on its official Facebook page: facebook.com/soulknituae