Raksha, Inc

This Pride Month, we honor the courage, resilience, and humanity of LGBTQIA++ communities.

For South Asian LGBTQIA++ survivors, experiences of violence and discrimination are often shaped by intersecting identities, including race, ethnicity, immigration status, religion, caste, language, and culture. These experiences deserve recognition, support, and justice.

We stand with LGBTQIA++ communities and survivors, honor the strength of q***r and trans South Asians, and remain committed to a future where everyone can live free from violence, discrimination, and fear.

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As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close, we are sharing resources to help conversations and to care for our young people before crisis moments arise.

This post includes information on crisis hotlines, youth helplines, prevention trainings, grief support, social media safety, community guides, and culturally specific mental health resources for South Asian and AAPI communities.

Save and share these resources. In the coming months, we hope to address common questions our community has, through social media posts and a live community conversation with mental health professionals.



We’d love to hear from you: What questions do you have about teen mental health or su***de prevention? Comment, DM us, or email us confidentially at [email protected]

If you’re South Asian, chances are you’ve heard: “Log kya kahenge?” — “What will people say?”

Too often, those words make us silence our feelings, hide our struggles, and carry pain alone. But your mental health is not a weakness, a burden, or something to be ashamed of. 💛

Taking care of your mind isn’t selfish — it’s necessary.
It makes you human.

And in cultures where we’re often taught to “stay strong” or stay silent, choosing yourself is a powerful act of healing.

You are allowed to:
✨ speak about how you feel
✨ set boundaries
✨ ask for help
✨ heal at your own pace
✨ choose yourself without guilt

As we wrap up mental health awareness month, your mental health matters, not just this month but every month and every day.

Explore inclusive, culturally relevant mental health resources here:
bit.ly/southasianmentalhealth



Grant Disclaimer - This project was supported by Grant No. 15JOVW-23-GG-01402-CY awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Justice.

🎬 Join us for a special Atlanta screening of Designed by Preeti with Actress/Director Rashmi Rustagi.

This award-winning film, inspired by true stories, follows one woman’s journey from domestic abuse to empowerment and explores important themes including domestic violence, mental health, women’s empowerment, and cultural expectations within the South Asian community.

✨ Stay after the film for a Q&A featuring Rashmi Rustagi and our Executive Director, Aparna Bhattacharyya!

📅 Saturday, June 13 | 1:00 PM

📍 The Tara Atlanta, 2345 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30324

🎟️ Get tickets: bit.ly/49oC4QC

Wishing our Muslim community a joyful and blessed Eid al-Adha Mubarak. 🌙✨
Eid al-Adha, also known as the Festival of Sacrifice, is a time of faith, gratitude, generosity, and coming together with loved ones and community. May this special holiday bring peace, happiness, and blessings to all who celebrate. 🤍

Today, we take a moment to remember and honor those who gave their lives in service to our country. This Memorial Day, we also recognize the contributions of South Asian Americans, who have proudly served in the U.S. Armed Forces for generations—from World War I through today.

In observance of the holiday, our office will be closed today 5/25, and will reopen tomorrow 5/26. Wishing everyone a safe and peaceful Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

🆘 If you are experiencing an emergency, please call 911.

If you are experiencing violence or assault, please call---
📞 GA Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-334-2836
📞 GA Network for Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800- 656-4673
📞 GA Human Trafficking Hotline: (866) 363-4842
📞 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233

If you are experiencing an crisis or need mental health support, please call---
📞 GA Crisis and Access Line: 1-800-715-4225

Raksha’s Executive Director Aparna Bhattacharyya was on a panel discussion on community trauma and resilience in immigrant and refugee populations at the 30th Rosalyn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum. Hosted by The Carter Center, this forum brings together service providers, policymakers, advocates, and individuals with lived experience from across Georgia to engage in open dialogue on timely and pressing mental health issues.*

“What a gift to be here to celebrate the legacy of Rosalyn Carter and her work to address mental health in our communities. It was such an important opportunity to talk about the needs of South Asian, immigrant and refugee populations,” shared Aparna Bhattacharyya.

The panel addressed systemic needs and gaps: advocacy for youth who need services when cultural stigma, fear and lack of resources become a barrier to parental consent; and the need for integrating mental health services in our schools, faith institutions and community.

Aparna also highlighted the harmful impacts of the current climate - war, hate crimes, the dehumanization of our communities - on collective mental well-being. “We need to find joy in community, connection, and the small things,” she added.

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[In the pics]
1. The panel: Belisa Urbina (Ser Familia), Temple Moore (Refugee Women’s Network), and Dr. Amin Gilani (Alabama Psychiatry), Aashna Panjwani, (The Carter Center), Aparna Bhattacharyya (ED, Raksha Inc).
2. Raksha ED with Board Member Bidisha Sinha.

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*Sources & More Info:
30th Rosalyn Carter Georgia Mental Health Forum, The Carter Center (May 19, 2026). https://www.cartercenter.org/events/30th-rosalynn-carter-georgia-mental-health-forum/

Mother's Day may have passed, but our gratitude is still pouring out. On this , we have two updates to share!

A special thank you to WOW (Women for Women), an Atlanta-based circle of friends who come together to make great things happen through health and community. WOW donated 20 gift cards worth $525 for Mother’s Day. A gift card gets groceries, school supplies, a treat for kids, and agency to mothers to decide what their families need most. We appreciate your support, WOW!
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080435542044

Our Mother's Day fundraiser on Pledge raised $5,350 so far. To each donor who gave in honor or memory of a mother in your life: thank you for showing up. For those who may want to support programs that serve mothers year-round - the fundraiser is still open: bit.ly/rakshaformom.