Beyond research, ample anecdotal evidence shows that mental health is often ignored in many South Asian communities, worsening the stigma as people suffer in silence.
However, in Melbourne, efforts are being made to confront this issue. The film The Rose Garden is a key example, directly addressing mental health challenges.
Screened on Thursday at the Nova in Carlton, the film, written and directed by Los Angeles-based Nidheya Suresh, follows two estranged sisters (played by Ria Patel and Kankana Chakraborty) who are forced to confront their unresolved issues after the sudden death of their parents.
This 2022 short film aims to challenge stereotypes and broaden the portrayal of South Asians in media while bringing important conversations about mental health to the forefront.
For Jagesh Panchal, founder of Shakti Mental Health, an initiative aimed at breaking the stigma surrounding mental health in South Asian and Australian communities, collaborating on the film screening in Melbourne is a good step in keeping the conversation going.
Ria Patel reached out to Panchal for the project, leading to a screening followed by a mental health panel in collaboration with the Australian South Asian Centre and Shakti.
“When Ria reached out about working on a film with a mental health theme, it was a bit of a fan moment for me because I’ve been following her work,” he says with a laugh.
“She mentioned the project and wanted to collaborate, and I was immediately on board. We were already exploring opportunities to find a space and work in Melbourne, so with the film’s focus on mental health and the South Asian community, it felt like a perfect fit for Shakti to get involved.”
Patel is grateful to the City of Melbourne for providing the grant to host an event where the community can discuss mental health and connect with one another, “especially within the South Asian community, where this topic is often swept under the rug”.
Panchal believes the film contributes significantly to the conversation around mental health. ‘In South Asian communities, we often don’t discuss loss and grief openly; these topics are typically confined to private life and close family. This film does a great job of bringing the conversation about grief and loss into the public sphere and encouraging connections with others. Often, we feel isolated or don’t open up, so this is a positive step.”
Building on the significance of this project, Patel reflects on her role as one of the two sisters. ‘It was a very collaborative process between the writer, director, and co-actor. We were always working together to build the emotional conflict between the estranged sisters who tragically lose their parents. As an actor, I was fortunate to connect easily with Konkana (co-actor), who was so emotionally available for me.”
The film aligns well with the mission of Shakti, the organisation Jagesh co-founded. “We aim for conversations and approaches in the South Asian mental health field to be more proactive rather than reactive. I hope people leave the film inspired to start conversations and think about how to involve others in their well-being.”
Jagesh started Shakti in 2018 to provide South Asians with a supported environment to discuss well-being and mental health. During his university years, he noticed a lack of support specifically for South Asian students, who, despite engaging in conversations about well-being, had few people to turn to.
Reflecting on his own experiences growing up in the Gujarati community, where discussions about mental health were rare, he felt a strong need to create a supportive environment. “
The goal was to establish a space where South Asians could openly talk about mental health, to prevent others from facing the same challenges I did. We want to provide proactive resources and support before individuals reach a darker point in their lives.”
For Ria Patel, working on this film was more than just a role; it was a cathartic experience. “Growing up, mental health was a topic we never discussed. I felt suppressed, and anger was an emotion we weren’t allowed to express in our household. Becoming an actor provided a sanctuary for me to explore and express emotions like anger through my characters, something I wasn’t allowed to do as Ria.”
The Rose Garden takes a significant step in opening up dialogue on mental health within the South Asian community, offering vital support and breaking the silence.
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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