Mental health: Riti’s story
For years, Riti* carried a battle that nobody could see. At 25, she was a garment worker, arriving at the factory each morning and returning home each evening like any other worker. But behind her daily routine was a woman living with years of fear, violence and emotional pain.
Riti had been married for almost nine years when she discovered that her husband was addicted to drugs. What followed was a life shaped by abuse, insults and uncertainty. Hoping to build a safer future, she moved to another city with her husband, leaving her young daughter behind with relatives. But the move brought no relief. The violence continued, while the money Riti earned through long hours in a garment factory was regularly taken by her husband.
Over time, the constant abuse began to erode her mental well-being. She felt trapped, isolated and unable to see a way forward. During Ramadan, overwhelmed by the pain she had carried for so long, Riti attempted to take her own life. Riti had never known that the suffering she experienced was something she could seek help for. She had no one she felt able to confide in and no access to professional mental health support.
Through the British Asian Trust’s Moner Kotha – Phase II project, which is supported by Primark, a para-counsellor recognised the seriousness of Riti’s issue and connected her with suicide risk management. With psychological support, she slowly began to process her experiences and reconnect with reasons to live.
For the first time, Riti felt hope, she said, "This was the first time in my life that I felt comfortable enough to speak openly about my struggles." Having started her healing, she now concentrates on plans to come and today, her daughter is at the centre of her hopes for the future.
Riti’s story highlights the invisible mental health challenges faced by vulnerable workers, many of whom have little or no access to psychologists or psychiatrists. By bringing mental health support closer to those who need it, the British Asian Trust is helping people find hope before their pain becomes a crisis.
*Names changed for confidentiality purposes. Images are not of any individuals mentioned.