Speaker spotlight: Monica
Meet Monica from New South Wales, a passionate Beyond Blue Speaker who has shared her powerful lived experience story for ten years. Monica’s love for travel and great food fuels her curiosity to explore new places and cultures, Recently she has taken up kayaking, enjoying the tranquillity of the water.
In 2015 Monica joined the Speakers Program, she has now shared her story at over 41 events!
Breaking the silence and staying well
In her early twenties, after a long period of being in denial, Monica came to the difficult but empowering realisation that she needed help. She took the first step of support seeking by speaking to her GP, eventually seeing a psychologist and starting medication after being diagnosed.
Monica is part of the South Asian community, with an Indian background she was aware of the stigma that surrounded mental health within her community.
“It is considered a taboo topic, and is often not talked about or even hidden from others due to feelings of shame about what the wider community might think. When I was first diagnosed, this stigma played a large factor in me being in denial about my mental health. I delayed opening up to my own family about my mental health illness due to the fear of what they would think.”
Monica’s journey is a testament to the power of seeking help, breaking through stigma and embracing self-care. Physical activity is a key part of Monica’s routine, along with staying connected to friends and regularly checking in with her psychologist. This routine has helped her maintain her well-being for over fifteen years.
Breaking the stigma by supporting her community
Monica is a founding member and the current Secretary of Haathi in the Room, a Sydney-based community organisation dedicated to starting important conversations and reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness within the South Asian community.
Recently Monica hosted newly onboarded speaker Ravin at one of their events. Ravin was previously mentored by Monica before her first speaking engagement earlier this year.
Being a speaker:
In the past ten years, Monica has had the opportunity to share her story with a wide range of audiences. A standout for her was speaking at the A-league Beyond Blue Cup in 2022, where Monica had the chance to speak to a stadium full of people shining a light on the importance of mental health awareness. However, her most meaningful moments in her time as a speaker hasn’t always been the large-scale events:For me, it’s the little moments like seeing someone in the audience who is nodding along while I share my story, as parts of it resonate with them.
While Monica regularly practices self-care, she has also developed a personal ritual to stay grounded before and after events:
I always try to take a few deep breaths before I do my speaking events to centre myself and get into the zone. Sometimes I'm feeling great before an event and sometimes I'm not, so it's a good way to just de-stress myself and get myself in the mind frame to do the talk.
After a decade of sharing her story, Monica’s key message is simple: mental health impacts everyone. If you’re struggling, remember that you’re not alone, and support is available to help you through life’s challenges.
