Discovery Counseling Center Hosting Dandiya Nights
SAN RAMON, CA — Discovery Counseling Center, which offers all varieties of counseling at an affordable sliding scale, is hosting a Discovery Dandiya Night to raise money for its programs, and awareness about mental health for the Asian-Pacific Islander community.
Executive Director Sumita Bhandari said she wanted to create an event to reach out to the San Ramon Valley’s changing demographics, where seeking mental health treatment can be stigmatized.
“Mental health stigma is a huge issue faced by Asian Americans,” Bhandari told Patch in an email. “AAs are 3x less likely than white Americans to seek mental health services but experience more severe levels of depression. Cultural norms, being perceived as ‘weak’ or ‘crazy’ by the community, and shame can all act as barriers for people to seek help. Our hope is that, through events like these where we can become a trusted partner to the community we can normalize & encourage our community to look at therapy as just as normal as going to the doctor when you have persistent chest pain. In those circumstances, we do not assume that a person has the skills to handle whatever they are dealing with or tell a person struggling with chest pain to ‘be strong’ or ‘not tell anyone.’
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In addition to implementing culturally responsive training for its clinicians, Discovery hoped to reach out to the community through a joyful celebration. “Dandiya Nights, or Ras Garba nights, are held during the festival season in India, leading up to the celebration of Diwali. These gatherings take place in all types of large venues, where mutiple generations of families gather to participate in garba (rhythmic folk dance) and raas (done with 16″ wooden sticks called Dandiyas),” Bhandari explained. “We chose this holiday as the festival as it brings all people, young and old, together in community with one another. Dance and movement also have a profoundly beneficial impact on one’s wellbeing.”
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 12 at 6 p.m. at the large gym at Dougherty Valley High School. As noted, it will feature dance to the live music of Madhvi and Asim Mehta, raffle prizes, a free photo booth, and food trucks. Discovery representatives will also be on site to give out information on Discovery’s mental health services. The event hopes to raise money for its services, so that over 70% of their patients can continue to receive some level of subsidized care.
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Last year, the first year the event was held, over 500 people helped raise just under $20,000.
See here for tickets and more information about sponsorship opportunities. For more information, visit discoveryctr.net.
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