Sikh your Mind with Raji K

Once upon a time when my life was clouded by a huge amount of trauma unknown to me this wasn’t normal or ok to accept; during this period I was definitely a high functioning depressive. Filling my time with children, work and activities had always been my way of dealing with how I feel – primarily by ignoring those negative feelings others created or said to me masking my feelings rather than dealing with them. Before I started my volunteering , I could successfully mask my low points until I was alone, but would then have a breakdown, with all my emotions overwhelming. Thinking I’m not good enough and making others happy by enduring suffering upon myself. However, through writing my thoughts I found I focused my needs . I reflected, I I fought and I became courageous. I then did a two year course on mental health in children and young adults so I could better myself and society. This allowed me to empathise with people suffering – it was actually extremely cathartic. No matter how rubbish I felt I knew I had to leave the house to go to a meeting because if I didn’t, these people who desperately needed funds wouldn’t get them.

From my experience, another positive of fundraising groups is the community you foster. My friends are some of the most supportive and brilliant people I know and they certainly helped me even on my worst days. The skills I learnt through fundraising have given me so much more confidence, and led to me heading up campaigns to improve mental health especially within the Sikh community. Without the background in understanding how to engage people both in person and on paper, I would never have been able to do the things I have done. Please donate anything you can to help this incredible charity raise awareness to speak up and talk, our mind is our biggest asset. Let’s not lose anymore loved ones over lack of awareness.