By Amandeep Doll, RPS Head of Engagement and Professional Belonging 

This Diwali and Bhandi Chhor Divas as we enter the auspicious time of peace, light and celebration, I would like to talk about wellbeing and particularly how we consider wellbeing within the South Asian community. As a Punjabi woman, I have first-hand experience of how difficult it can be and when your mental health is not the best it can be hard to find the words to describe how you’re feeling in English let alone in Punjabi.  

The power of togetherness and belonging 

There are so many amazing things about the South Asian culture including coming together and supporting each other. Diwali and Bhandi Chhor Divas bring a sense of togetherness and belonging. We should use this positivity to check in with our colleagues and ensure they’re doing ok. 

An inclusive and supportive workplace culture has a positive impact on wellbeing in the workplace, having a positive workplace culture benefits everyone. Pharmacy teams feel motivated and supported and are more likely to be innovative, highlight errors and deliver a higher standard of patient care.  

People working in organisations with good workplace culture feel valued leading to positive staff wellbeing and lower stress levels.  

Encouraging mental health discussions in professional spaces 

Do members of your team feel a sense of togetherness and a sense of belonging? Within the South Asian community, we don’t really talk about our mental health and wellbeing. Does this impact how we present at work as leaders? If we’re not used to talking about our mental health, do we encourage these discussions at work?  Creating an inclusive culture creates a sense of belonging which will have a positive impact on an individual’s wellbeing. People will feel accepted for who they are and are more likely to fully contribute within the workplace. This can be created by proactively ensuring there is diversity within the team and diversity of thought from diverse team members from a range of backgrounds and experiences. 

Acknowledging extra mental load during festive preparations 

Throughout this time, we also need to be considerate of the increase in mental load when preparing for the festivities of Diwali and Bhandi Chhor Divas. This responsibility is more likely to fall on the women in the family, this increase in mental load may have a negative impact on an individual’s wellbeing as there will be additional things to plan and prepare for. Balancing the preparations, relatives, family expectations and work, this multitasking may have a toll on their mental health. If this applies to women in your team, take the time to check in on them to see how they’re doing.  

Encouraging open conversations on inclusion, diversity and wellbeing 

During this Diwali and Bhandi Chhor Divas, we should encourage more open conversations, reflect on our biases and consider where we can shine a light on how we can improve inclusion, diversity and wellbeing practices within our workplaces. It’s important to adopt an intersectional perspective, recognising people are shaped by more than just protected characteristics, including their unique work and life experiences. We must ensure we have diverse, inclusive teams that we treat equitably to create that sense of belonging to have teams that have positive wellbeing in the workplace. Diwali marks the beginning of a New Year for Hindus which is an opportunity to rejuvenate with a sense of freshness and renewed enthusiasm.  

I wish everyone a Happy Diwali and Bhandi Chhor Divas with lots of positivity, light and good wishes and a Happy New Year.  

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