Supporting Mental Health and Well-being in Our Community
Dial 1-855-878-6333 for a Patient Ear, a Kind Word, an Emotional Hug: How UMEED is Helping Tackle Personal Crise
25-year-old Amandeep* (name changed) sobbed profusely when he dialed UMEED – UNITED SIKHS’ 24*7 confidential helpline number meant to help the South-Asian community members access resources for personal problems. In between sniffles and sobs, he recounted his story of lingering loneliness – of having grown up in a broken home in India, of coming to the United States all by himself, of his banal routine consisting of pursuing a degree by the day and working the graveyard shift by night. While life had not exactly been a cheerful affair earlier, a relationship with a girl in the U.S. that fell apart acted as the final straw, plunging him into an excruciatingly deep depression.
Luckily for him, UMEED made him aware of how he could make use of his medical insurance to seek mental health treatment which he promptly did. While he is currently on medication prescribed by the psychiatrist, he continues to find solace and succor in calling the UMEED helpline, savoring the simple comfort of having another human being listen and speak to him, as a friend or confidante would.
The line ‘you are not alone’ on the UMEED flyer – found inside the Gurudwara premises – caught the attention of 42-year-old Narinder* (name changed). He dialed the number and despite the initial reluctance to speak, he eventually revealed how he had been in dire straits ever since his wife had left him and taken their teenaged son along. The painstakingly built union of 15 years had fallen apart. The double whammy of desertion and isolation was causing him to question himself – was he truly a terrible spouse? Had he never been a good father? Luckily, Narinder found the support and validation he sought on that UMEED phone call and felt lighter by the time he hung up, free of the blame and self-contempt crippling his conscience.
Men are doomed to suffer in silence because they are socially conditioned to believe that sharing one’s grief is disgraceful – a veritable mark of unmanliness. Both Narinder and Amandeep bore deep emotional wounds, exacerbated by loneliness. But the cover of anonymity and confidentiality granted by UMEED allowed them both to give vent to their long bottled-up feelings without the fear of being judged or shamed. They were patiently listened to and proffered words of hope and optimism, making sure they felt they weren’t alone in their misery.
And that’s truly what UMEED has always stood for. Re-launched in 2022, UMEED is UNITED SIKHS’ community-driven helpline number set up to provide any kind of personal help or support or resource to community members. It could be help for overcoming substance addiction, resources for elderly care; it could be counseling for post-disaster distress, or even just someone to help banish the blues.
UMEED, or hope, means different things to different people. Likewise, our helpline is designed to give every caller precisely the type of support they are looking for – tailor-made solace, if you will.
Are you a legal professional, marriage counselor, family lawyer, mental health expert, or senior care provider? Volunteer for UMEED, the community needs you! Fill out the form to become a volunteer https://unitedsikhs.org/join-us/
If you support the idea of sewa that drives UMEED, make a donation!
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Nandini Sen
UNITED SIKHS
Recognize the Human Race as One
