By Raymond Chou
Mental health rarely announces itself plainly. For many in South Asian and other diasporic communities, it arrives disguised as fatigue, back pain, or a headache that never quite fades. It is spoken around, not spoken about. On May 30, 2026, Moving Forward Family Services (MFFS) brought hundreds of community members to Newton Athletic Park to change that.
The national Defeat Depression Walkathon, now in its 15th year, served as both a fundraiser and a platform for a conversation many have long been reluctant to have. Co-hosts Sharan and Jason guided the morning program, weaving together research, personal narrative, and community celebration into a morning that felt as much like a gathering as a march.
A Space for Stories
The event drew civic support from Surrey-Panorama MLA Bryan Tepper of the BC Conservative Party, who joined participants and organizers in front of the campaign displays and used his provincial platform to amplify the message of mental health advocacy. MFFS, a previous recipient of the Drishti Magazine Community Service Award, continues to earn that recognition for its commitment to culturally responsive care.
An advocate proudly displays the “Mental Health Matters” flag at Newton Athletic Park, a powerful visual reminder of the community’s effort to break down cultural stigma.
But the most powerful moments of the morning came from within the community itself. Co-host Sharan opened a frank conversation about the cultural dimensions of mental health, dimensions that often go unspoken.
“Growing up, I often saw mental health struggles expressed as physical symptoms, such as headaches, back pain, or fatigue, without recognizing that mental health could be an underlying factor. Mental health was also often stigmatized and viewed as a sign of weakness, leading to hiding emotions and putting on a tough exterior rather than seeking support.”
— Sharan, Event Co-host
Her words resonated throughout the crowd. Sharan went on to emphasize that experiencing vulnerable moments is a normal, human part of life, and that those struggles do not define who a person is.
Care Without Barriers
MFFS has built its entire model around dismantling the barriers that keep people from accessing support. The organization provides individual, couples, family, and group therapy programs delivered in more than 20 languages, meeting clients where they are, both linguistically and culturally. Over the past two years, the organization has delivered more than 40,000 multilingual sessions across British Columbia.
Community advocates, volunteers, and Moving Forward Family Services organizers gather to champion low-barrier mental health resources.
Fifteen thousand sessions in the past year were provided at no cost to clients. Remaining sessions were offered on a sliding scale, averaging $5 to $7, ensuring that a lack of financial means is never a reason someone goes without support.
A Young Voice on the Trail
The event also spotlighted inspiring youth perspectives. Community member Seva stepped forward to share a story many in the crowd recognized, about fitness, anxiety, and the quiet battle of living in a body you struggle to accept.
“As someone who has struggled with depression, the gym became an outlet for really taking on the depression physically.”
— Seva, Community Member
He closed his remarks with a lyric from the late artist Nipsey Hussle that lingered long after the crowd began to move: “When it rains, it starts pouring, but how we grind makes the weather change for us.”
Community members lead the way along the walkathon route, taking literal and figurative steps to normalize vulnerable conversations about mental wellness.
A Movement, Not Just a Moment
Founder and Executive Director Gary Thandi, MSW, RSW, received a standing ovation at the conclusion of the program. Under his leadership, MFFS completed more than 20,700 intern-delivered sessions in 2024 alone, demonstrating that the organization’s model is not only compassionate but also deeply effective.
For the communities MFFS serves, many of whom have kept mental health a secret for generations, the walkathon was more than a fundraiser. It was an invitation. To speak. To seek help. To walk forward together.
