If you are having suicidal thoughts or feelings, contact 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, or a qualified physician / mental health professional immediately.
MannMukti had the privilege of partnering with Texas PSA – Pakistani Students Association for ‘Slam the Stigma,’ a night of intriguing and educational talks regarding mental health in the South Asian community hosted at The University of Texas at Austin.
The attendees got to hear from a wide variety of incredible individuals, from seasoned research professionals to courageous students, as they discussed mental health and the role it has played in their lives. There was also an open mic portion for anyone in the audience who wished to come up and share their story.
Whenever finals season approaches, it can become harder and harder for us to keep our mental health in check. In order to start this much-needed conversation about mental health during finals, The Pakistani Students Association and The UT Indian Cultural Association organized a chai (tea) chat with MannMukti at The University of Texas at Austin.
The guest speakers for the evening were Monica Thiagarajan, a psychologist at the UT Mental Health and Counseling Center, and Amy Tao-Foster, a staff therapist and diversity counselor at the UT Mental Health and Counseling Center.
MannMukti’s mission is to eradicate the stigma associated with mental health in South Asian communities, and the first step is to monitor our own mental health through self-reflection and meditation.
Enter yoga.
The word yoga means to join or unite, and yogis view this unison in different ways – the unison of body, mind and spirit, uniting all the aspects of yourself, or uniting with a higher power or spiritual force.
MannMukti worked towards creating this bond through an hour-long free yoga class at Austin’s Zilker Park. Our beginner yoga lesson was for everyone — from experienced yogis to those who had yet to step foot on a yoga mat.