Rcoz, a nonprofit dedicated to mental health awareness in South Asian communities, will host a gala featuring Paraag Marathe of the San Francisco 49ers on May 30 in Palo Alto.
Rcoz, a Fremont-based nonprofit organization focused on mental health prevention within South Asian communities, is set to hold a fundraising gala on Saturday, May 30, at The Woman’s Club of Palo Alto. This event coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness and fostering acceptance of mental health issues in the South Asian community.
Paraag Marathe, the President of 49ers Enterprises and Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the San Francisco 49ers, will headline the event. Marathe also serves as the Chairman of Leeds United, adding to his prominence in the sports industry.
Despite the growing recognition of mental health issues, South Asian mental health remains largely underreported. Events like the upcoming gala provide a crucial opportunity for dialogue within the community, aiming to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health. Marathe will lead a conversation focused on breaking cultural silence and encouraging South Asians to seek help early, before crises arise. Rcoz highlights that mental health concerns are often only addressed when they escalate into emergencies.
“To give you a sense of what’s at stake: in just the last four months, we are aware of four South Asian youth suicides in the Bay Area alone. It’s hard to ignore what that’s telling us,” a representative from Rcoz stated.
Rcoz envisions a future where mental health discussions in South Asian households are as commonplace as conversations about physical ailments, such as the common cold. The organization aims to empower individuals to articulate their experiences through storytelling, community dialogues with culturally sensitive mental health experts, and programs designed for both youth and families.
This summer, Rcoz will launch the High School Changemaker Program, running from July 6 to August 2. This initiative aims to build leadership skills and raise awareness among youth regarding mental health issues. Supported by various community-based organizations, particularly those focusing on substance use and suicide prevention, the program will offer leadership training alongside mental health specialists and peer support mentors.
Shreyas Jay, a senior who participated in last year’s program, shared his experience: “We worked on things like elevator pitches, marketing ideas, and speaking about our own experiences, along with sessions on substance use and suicide awareness that helped us understand what to look for and what kind of support is out there, for ourselves or for someone else.” He added that the program challenged him in unexpected ways.
Jay initially believed his struggles were unique, but he found solace in hearing peers share their experiences. “The struggles we go through are much more similar than most of us think,” he reflected.
For more information about the gala and to support Rcoz’s mission, visit their official website.
The gala will take place on Saturday, May 30, at The Woman’s Club of Palo Alto, located at 475 Homer Ave, Palo Alto.
According to Rcoz, the event promises to be a significant step toward fostering mental health awareness and support within the South Asian community.