A culturally sensitive listening and information service for the Asian community in Kent is breaking down barriers to support those in need.

Non-profit organisation Rethink Sahayak, based in Gravesend High Street provides specialist services to ethnic minorities affected by mental health and money issues.

Rethink Sahayak, which means helpful in Hindi, was created nearly 30 years ago, in 1996.

It falls under the umbrella of the charity Rethink Metal Illness and acts as a bridge between mainstream services and those who may not be able to access the support they need.

Speaking to KentOnline as part of Mental Health Awareness Week (May 15 - May 21) services manager Carol Gosal, said: “As we know, certainly in the Gravesham area from where we work, predominantly there was a high percentage of Sikh communities back in those days.

“Obviously today, we are in response to a variety of different diverse communities, and that's what makes it quite unique.”

Unlike other mental health charities, Rethink Sahayak is able to take calls through its helpline from those who speak in Asian laguages, including Gujarati, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu.

“There’s a lot of people who may not have access to services - it could be around cultural awareness, it could be around language barriers.

“We’ve been able to kind of navigate around that and provide that accessibility.

“We are in the heart of the community and it’s about working with it and being responsive to what it needs,” explains Carol.

At the centre of the organisation, Rethink Sayhayak aims to promote mental health awareness, encourage self care and help with problem prevention.

Carol added: “We help to break down some of that stigma, and that taboo that is attached to mental health,”

Don’t suffer in silence. There is help out there

The Kent charitiy provides assistance to those struggling across the towns of Gravesend, Medway, Dartford and Swanley.

Carol said: “Referrals do come through from different avenues: through professionals, through voluntary sectors, or self, or family members - we’re able to respond and take those on.

“That help could be one-to-one support, it could be in group setting, peer led groups, we have student counselling placements so there’s a variety of different activities that can take place.”

Over the past three decades, the charity has stumbled across a variety of topics that can all lead to people’s mental health detoriorating.

These can be, but are not limited to, domestic abuse and violence, and substance and alcohol abuse.

“We’re able to work in partnership and collaborative across different partner agencies as well - so it’s not about one charity fits one size,” adds the service manager.

“We’re able to kind of work collectively for the person to get the right support - whether they are young or old or whichever background they came from, I’m sure we can nurture them and help somebody.”

Each year, Rethink Sahayak hosts a health and wellbeing event called ‘Listen Up’.

Carol said: “It used to be called Sadi Awaz Suno and was predominantly for women, but certainly over the last two years and after covid, we’ve branched it out to be inclusive of different communities, as well as men.

“What we were finding is that actually, there are many referrals that we get after that event and following raising national profile cases and national speakers”

“What we need, to continue to raise this awareness is more people that have got lived experiences who are able to share their stories. That’s quite powerful.

“More and more awareness is the success of reaching out.”

And to those who may be afraid to seek help, Carol says: “It does take a lot of courage just to go to your GP or to talk about it but using the resources that are there can be done in a confidential way.

“Don’t suffer in silence. There is help out there.”