SWSPHN’s Mental Health team member, Devendra Sapkota, was recently given the opportunity to be the Master of Ceremonies at the Dine for Mind Gala Dinner at the Emporium Function Centre, Bankstown.
Mr Sapkota MC’d the event in his role as an NSW Multicultural Ambassador for the Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA).
“I was nervous but confident,” he said.
The Dine for Mind Gala Dinner aimed to raise funds for the MHFA’s Small Grants Program NSW, by exchanging inspiring stories and showcasing a variety of multicultural entertainment and dancing.
Devendra Sapkota (right), at the Dine for Mind Gala Dinner.
Mr Sapkota has done extensive work for multicultural communities in South Western Sydney, whether it is within his role at SWSPHN or in his volunteer positions. He is a First aid, CRP and Mental Health First Aid trainer and has provided training for more than 100 people in Mental Health First Aid.
Mr Sapkota came to Australia from Nepal with his family in 2008. He said the change was hard, coming to a place where he knew no one.
“People coming from overseas can have a sense of being alone and isolated, there is so much stigma in a lot of multicultural communities about mental health, people don’t want to speak to anyone.”
One in five Australians will experience mental ill health in any given year. Yet there are still many barriers which stop people from multicultural backgrounds from seeking mental health services and help.
“I want to help people understand what services are out there, when to talk, how to talk, and where and when to get services,” he said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr Sapkota was the president for the Nepalese South Western Sydney community. He worked with the NSW Government to translate health information and helped spread the message to communities in South Western Sydney.
“There was so much suffering from COVID, so many languages barriers making people less advantaged,” he said.
With a strong passion for quality local healthcare and making a positive impact for our community, Mr Sapkota has visited more than half of all general practices in South Western Sydney to better understand healthcare needs, but mostly to connect with the people that make up our community.
“It’s an honour to connect with the community and the different people, because we need to look past a number, to look at the person,” he said.