How China is erasing Hong Kong’s Tiananmen Square memories

In this edition: Authorities in Hong Kong have been actively removing books about the Tiananmen Square Massacre from library shelves to erase its memories. But communities overseas are keeping the legacy alive.

The mental health industry has been growing in India as awareness increases. But many who do not conform to social norms say their experiences seeking help have left them feeling invalidated.
 
On the ground in Colombo: It has been more than a decade since Fareedun Riffat fled Pakistan for Sri Lanka after her inter-caste marriage put the family at risk. The imminent ending of the UNHCR operations in Sri Lanka has led the family to fear that they will be forever trapped in transit.

DW on YouTube: Every week we feature a long-form, Asia-focused video from DW’s YouTube channels. This week, check out “India: An emerging superpower” from DW Documentary.

These stories and more in today’s DW Asia newsletter.

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Read Tanika Godbole’s report from New Delhi

A student based in Mumbai sought therapy after coming out to her family as a lesbian.

“It was a terrible time in my life. My father had disowned me, and I was guilty all the time. I felt I was letting my family down,” Alina, using an alias, told DW.

The 25-year-old said seeking help had left her feeling invalidated, uncertain and low in self-esteem.

“My therapist at the time told me that my father only wants what is good for me, and I should apologize to him. This made me feel as if I should be ashamed of my sexuality.” After a couple of sessions, Alina stopped seeing the therapist.

“I have now luckily found a supportive queer community and a better therapist,” Alina added. “A lot of counselors and therapists advertise that they are queer-friendly, but they really are not. This is quite dangerous to the mental health of so many individuals, especially those coming from traditional or restrictive families.”

Same-sex marriage debate in India

As India’s top court debates same-sex marriage, the Indian Psychiatric Society has extended its support for the cause of equal rights. In 2018, the umbrella body issued a statement saying homosexuality was a variant of normal sexuality and not an illness, adding that members of the LGBTQ community should be treated equally.

However, some practitioners still carry outdated views when it comes to sexuality.

Increasing mental health awareness

According to estimates by the World Health Organization, 56 million Indians suffer from depression and about 38 million suffer from anxiety disorders. Mental health awareness is on the rise, especially in urban India. A study by UnivDatos Market Insights shows that the mental health industry is expected to grow at an annual rate of 15% for the years 2022-2028.

The Indian Mental Health Care Act of 2017 provides individuals with the right to make complaints about deficiencies in the provision of services.

The Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI) conducts a Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice course, through which it has already trained some 500 mental health professionals in India. It lists the names of practitioners who have completed the course on its website. “Being queer, caste and disability-friendly cannot be limited to one course. Professionals in the field should practice allyship and update themselves regularly and consistently,” Raj Mariwala, director of the Mariwala Health Initiative, told DW.

When it comes to “bad therapy,” professionals say people should not let this discourage them from seeking help.

Read the rest of Tanika’s report.

Read Dimuthu Attanayake’s report

It has been more than a decade since Fareedun Riffat fled her hometown Karachi, Pakistan, with her family. She arrived in Sri Lanka seeking asylum after her inter-caste marriage put the family at risk.

Riffat’s family received refugee status from the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) as far back as 2015, but delays in application processing and rejection from host countries have kept them in Sri Lanka — a temporary destination until repatriated elsewhere.

But now, the imminent ending of the UNHCR operations in Sri Lanka has led the family to fear that they will be forever trapped in transit.

Since Sri Lanka is not party to the Geneva Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, agreed in 1951, refugees have no right to legally work while in the country, and can even be deported if caught working illegally.

While in Sri Lanka, asylum-seekers and refugees have access to the public health system, and once recognized as a refugee, UNHCR provides a monthly living allowance. As part of the allowance, children also receive funding for school education.

Recent data shows that only 21% of the UNHCR’s 2023 financial requirements for Sri Lanka have been met so far.

By November 2020, there were 1,253 refugees and asylum-seekers in the country, and in December 2022, the Sri Lankan Navy rescued a boat carrying 105 displaced Rohingya people from Rakhine state in Myanmar, who are currently residing in Sri Lanka.

Read the rest of Dimuthu’s report

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