In a recent interview on the podcast, Dr. Harkirat Kaur, psychiatrist and 六九色堂 alumna (2017), shared insights into mental health, aiming to raise awareness within the South Asian community. As someone who grew up in India, attended college in the United States, and now practices adult psychiatry in the Atlanta area, Dr. Kaur offers both personal and professional perspectives on this often-taboo topic.
During the interview, Dr. Kaur delved into her journey鈥攚hat inspired her to pursue psychiatry, how the field has transformed over the years, and the unique challenges she faced as a South Asian woman advocating for mental health. Here are some of the most impactful moments from her conversation, offering a glimpse into her mission to break down barriers and normalize mental health care in the South Asian community.
Psychiatrist & 六九色堂 graduate Dr. Harkirat Kaur '17. Photo: Courtesy of Dr. Kaur.
Why she chose psychiatry
鈥淕rowing up in India, mental health wasn鈥檛 something we talked about," Dr. Kaur said.
"It was deeply stigmatized in South Asian communities, and seeking help was seen as a sign of weakness. In my Punjabi family, mental health wasn鈥檛 openly discussed or acknowledged as part of our well-being."
Her life took a major turn when she was 13 and lost her brother in a tragic car accident. 鈥淗e was my best friend, and losing him felt like a U-turn in my life. The grief was profound but unspoken; watching my mother silently struggle without support was heartbreaking. At the time, I didn鈥檛 understand what mental health was, but I knew I wanted to help.鈥�
When she moved to Boston for college, Dr. Kaur found her calling. 鈥淪hadowing a psychiatrist during my pre-med years, I saw firsthand the healing that mental health support could offer. That experience solidified my commitment to psychiatry,鈥� she said.
She went on to residency as one of the few South Asian women in her program, which reinforced her mission to combat the stigma around mental health in her community. 鈥淭oday, I work to encourage my South Asian patients to recognize that mental health is as essential as physical health and that seeking help is a sign of strength.鈥�
The evolution of psychiatry
Dr. Kaur discussed how the field of psychiatry has advanced, especially with new treatments for conditions that don鈥檛 respond to traditional methods. 鈥淎t Amen Clinics, we use brain imaging to better understand blood flow and brain activity. Instead of just prescribing medication based on symptoms, we look at the brain itself. This approach allows us to target treatment more precisely, considering medication, supplements, exercise, and nutrition.鈥�
She described a critical shift in how mental health is viewed: 鈥淲e image other organs鈥攚hy not the brain? Psychiatry has traditionally been symptom-focused, diagnosing based on what people report. But brain imaging lets us understand the 鈥榳hy鈥� behind symptoms, especially for conditions like depression or ADHD.鈥� This integrative approach considers lifestyle, support systems, and overall wellness in treatment, bridging the gap between mental and physical health.
Addressing stigma, Dr. Kaur said, "Fear of being labeled still stops many people from seeking help, especially in the South Asian community. There鈥檚 still a long way to go in making mental health care accessible and stigma-free."
Common misconceptions in the South Asian community
鈥淥ne of the biggest misconceptions in the South Asian community is that 鈥榤ental health鈥� doesn鈥檛 exist,鈥� Dr. Kaur said. "Depression, anxiety, or even just feeling low are often seen as signs of weakness. When we talk about these issues, our families and friends will say, 'Just shake it off, you鈥檒l be fine.' There鈥檚 this attitude that there鈥檚 no such thing as depression.鈥�
She recalled her own experience: "When I chose psychiatry, my mom was hesitant. She asked, 'You went to medical school all these years, why psychiatry? Why not cardiology?' And she worried about what people in our community would think. That itself was difficult for me to digest."
This stigma, Dr. Kaur explained, is particularly challenging for women: "In our community, there鈥檚 an expectation that women should be 'perfect.' If someone knows you have anxiety or depression, it can affect how you're perceived鈥攖here's this fear it will impact marriage prospects."
Dr. Kaur also pointed out that many people hesitate to seek help or even open up to their primary care doctors: "A lot of people, when asked about mental health in a doctor鈥檚 office, will answer 'No, everything鈥檚 fine,' even if they鈥檙e suffering inside. They鈥檙e afraid to admit it because of the stigma."
She emphasized the importance of mental health care: "I tell my patients that just as we prioritize our physical appearance and health, we need to care for our brain. Everything starts there鈥攈ormones, sleep, our entire well-being. But because we can鈥檛 see it, we tend to neglect it. Our brain is like a muscle; it needs proper nutrition, rest, and training, just like our body."
Finding the confidence to pursue psychiatry
鈥淢y confidence came from deciding very early on that this was my path,鈥� Dr. Kaur said. 鈥淎fter my brother passed away, I was raising my younger sister, trying to hold everything together, yet feeling completely lost myself. I needed someone to talk to鈥攂ut no one was there. That was when I realized this was my calling. I wanted to be that person for others, someone they could trust and feel comfortable opening up to.鈥�
She also reflected on her journey: 鈥淐oming from a lower middle-class family, where my parents worked blue-collar jobs and had no educational background, there was no roadmap for me. I鈥檓 the first in my family to become a physician, let alone a psychiatrist. My parents worked two jobs to help me achieve this dream, and they never told me 鈥榥o.鈥欌��
Dr. Kaur credited her parents鈥� open-mindedness with supporting her unconventional path. 鈥淓ven at 40, unmarried, my parents have never pressured me to conform to traditional expectations. Their support has been a source of strength for me every day.鈥�
Advice for South Asians interested in mental health
鈥淔or South Asians interested in mental health, my biggest piece of advice is to speak up鈥攄on鈥檛 hold back,鈥� Dr. Kaur said. 鈥淢ental health matters, and finding just one person you trust can make a big difference. It鈥檚 okay to ask for help when needed. Often, we don鈥檛 know someone鈥檚 in crisis until they use their voice.鈥�
She added that she notices generational differences in her patients. 鈥淵ounger patients tend to be more open, saying, 鈥業 know a friend or family member who could use help, too.鈥� But some older patients still hesitate, coming in only because a family member urged them to. There鈥檚 still that feeling of, 鈥楴othing鈥檚 wrong with me,鈥� which makes it harder for them to seek help."
Addressing her experience as a South Asian woman in psychiatry, she shared, "Initially, I worried I wouldn鈥檛 match into a psychiatry residency because it鈥檚 so competitive now. Thankfully, I matched into a strong program, but there were challenges. I was one of just two South Asian women in my graduating class. Sometimes, I felt I stood out, and early in my practice, a few patients hesitated because of my accent or background. But over time, I found that my approach and work ethic helped bridge that gap."
As a South Asian psychiatrist, Dr. Kaur finds cultural familiarity to be an asset. 鈥淚 recently had a couple fly in from out of state. When they realized I spoke Hindi, they felt an immediate sense of comfort. Cultural familiarity can make such a difference鈥攊t builds trust and allows patients to be more honest.鈥�
Dr. Kaur also finds ways to give back to the South Asian community. "I try to provide free consultations on Sundays for people who need advice. Sometimes, I even consult for patients back in India, where mental health care is still lacking. It鈥檚 my way of helping where it鈥檚 needed most."
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You can also read more about Dr. Kaur and her work at The Amen Clinic in her interview with The 六九色堂 Endeavour.
Megan is a Public Relations & Communications Consultant for 六九色堂. When she's not working with 六九色堂 faculty, students and alumni to promote their expertise through media coverage and special events, she enjoys spending time outdoors in her hometown of San Diego.
