Our vision
To start the conversation, and reduce the stigma around mental illness in the South Asian community
…we are giving a voice to the “Haathi (Elephant) in the Room”
Why it matters
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There is significant stigma attached to mental illness and little open discussion within the South Asian community
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Mental health issues are often associated with concepts of shame
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Those who suffer are often perceived as either “weak” or “stupid”
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South Asians are considerably less likely to seek help for mental health conditions compared to the rest of the Australian population.
Our Story
In 2016, a group of South Asian women were inspired to drive change in the community. These women saw the need to start a conversation around mental health in the South Asian Community, and tackle the rife stigma that exists.
This led to the formation of Haathi in the Room.
In early 2017, Haathi in the Room was launched!
Our Team
Nitasha Bhatia is a founding member and President of Haathi in the Room. Nitasha is passionate about raising awareness and advocating for mental wellbeing within Sydney’s South Asian community.
Nitasha has been involved in various community groups including the SAHELI Women’s Network and Vision 2020. She emceed and contributed to numerous events for these organisations over the past seven years, including Diwali Dinners and virtual fundraising events.
Nitasha is also a regular contributor for the Indian Down Under Newspaper publishing articles on various community-based issues. In August 2017, Nitasha was named a finalist for the Premier's NSW Multicultural Young Journalist of the Year Award.
In her personal life. Nitasha works as a Public Policy Professional for the Commonwealth Government. Nitasha holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) degree from the University of New South Wales.
![Vidhisha-Khetwani_JOW-180504-7323[33977].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34fcc4_98c5adbefbe449ec81f2d1808dbaae0f~mv2.jpg/v1/crop/x_0,y_1,w_600,h_599/fill/w_268,h_268,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Vidhisha-Khetwani_JOW-180504-7323%5B33977%5D.jpg)
Vidhisha Khetwani believes in giving back to the community and is the Co Founder and Treasurer of Haathi in the room.
Vidhisha loves organising events, Bollywood dancing and choreography. She has been an active member of Sydney Sindhi Association since 17 years and voluntarily trains 15-20 kids every year on Bollywood dancing to remove stage fear and connect them to Indian heritage through Bollywood songs. In the past, she has been the Secretary of Sydney Sindhi Association and organised Corporate community events and raised funds and supported for Charity organisations.
Vidhisha holds Bachelor’s degree in Commerce specialising in Finance and is a motivated and results driven Project Management Professional and brings this skill set in use by managing the HIR financials and workshop planning and organising.
In one sentence-A social butterfly, mum and wife , professional ,community worker and fitness fanatic.
Monica Das is a founding member and current Secretary of Haathi in the Room.
Monica is a passionate mental health advocate, and has been a volunteer speaker for BeyondBlue since 2015, sharing her own lived experience with anxiety and depression. She is an experienced speaker across multiple audiences including schools, corporate events, and community organisations. It was one such speaking event in the Indian community, focused on raising awareness around mental health in the community which led her to meet Haathi in the Room co-founder Sumati Advani.
In her personal life, Monica is an experienced economist and public policy professional, currently working for the NSW Government. She leverages these skills in leading Haathi in the Room’s grant writing efforts.
![Sue (1)[33975].jpg](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/34fcc4_7ec4ba657cce4cd98071a7cd305d3b6f~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_196,h_268,al_c,q_80,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/Sue%20(1)%5B33975%5D.jpg)
Sumati Advani is a founding member and current Public Officer of Haathi in the Room Inc.
Sumati is a Community Advocate and has been actively involved in several community projects and fund raising activities over the past 30 years. Sumati has served as a White Ribbon Advocate. Sumati is a member of the Department of Home Affairs NSW Women’s Reference Group using this platform to raise important issues of concern for the South Asian community.
In March 2017, Sumati was awarded the prestigious Local Woman of the Year Award for Strathfield which was presented to her at the NSW Government’s International Women’s Day function held at the International Convention Centre at Darling Harbour.
In her personal life, Sumati migrated to Australia 41 years ago. Sumati holds a Master’s Degree in Transport Economics (Macquarie University) and is a qualified Project Manager. Sumati has had a successful career as a Senior Executive with RailCorp NSW. Currently she is the Director of SGA Management Consulting Services Pty Ltd which provides project management support for major rail infrastructure projects. Sumati is a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Macquarie Community College NSW.
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Sashika de Silva is a current member of Haathi in the Room.
Growing up and living in a South Asian community, Sashika saw first hand the impact of stigma on understanding and help-seeking around mental ill-health. Thus, a key hope of Sashika's is to increase awareness and break down stigma around mental ill-health especially in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.
Sashika currently works as a consumer peer worker and peer educator, where she draws upon her lived experience of mental ill-health to connect with others in their own unique journeys of mental health recovery and develop better services. Sashika is also studying to be a clinical psychologist, and is passionate about providing a safe space for growth and exploration.