Chandu Shah

This is very sad news as Chandu, one of our Carer governors , and a very active member of our Carers Council, has died.

This will be a big shock to many of you who knew him well – he was a very respected, very committed champion for mental health, carers and volunteering.

I also know that some of you have also lost close relatives – including Ketan Sheth our lead governor, whose father very sadly died this week too.

Our thoughts are with their families and friends at this very sad time.

Professor Dorothy Griffiths OBE FCGI FRSA

Chair, Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust

See - https://www.oshwal.org.uk/late-chandulal-virchand-haria/​

This is an article from Chandu written a little while ago.

Chandu Shah – Community Mental health champion.

I am Chandu Shah, have lived in Harrow for last 40 years. My community work stated in Kenya where I was a trainer for the St John’s ambulance and was instrumental in getting a lot of young people develop first aid skills and interest in health, many of whom pursued a career as clinicians. Kenya at the time was going through struggle for independence and in 1963 became independent so my work was grounded in the needs of the indigenous people. I was the District Commander by the time I left Kenya.

I like to work with people and strongly believe in equality. In many ways, my professional and social life are intrinsically linked to education, social justice and mental health campaigning.

When I arrived in England, my first home was the community centre in Harrow where I volunteered in my spare time. Life changed for me significantly when my younger son developed severe mental health condition whilst at University. From being a bright teenager, within a couple of years he became a recluse, ended up at mental health hospital, did not leave the house. Both my wife and I became “carers” and had to navigate through the stigma attached to mental health in the Asian community.

I became involved in the Time to Change campaign; I used my personal story on a Public platform in all the leaflets and other media communication in and around NW London, an area with high number of South Asians. Not only did I became a Time to Change Champion, I became a trainer for other carers, training GPs, Practice staff, mental health staff on the way Asian people think about mental health and how families and service users can be better supported.

My motivation is very much about fighting discrimination and stigma. For many years I have worked tirelessly both in the public and private, and voluntary and community sectors. This is one of the main drivers for my involvement with Time to Change and MIND. I want to help raise awareness of mental health and its impact on people and society.

My charity work with the carers Network gives me access to a wide variety of networks, both locally and regionally. For this work, I became one of “Carer” governors for our mental health Trust Central and North West London Foundation Trust. I have good links with community health, NHS, local leaders including faith leaders. What we have established is a EKTA (solidarity) group that meet regularly and a lot of people in the group have become peer support and befrienders. Today when local authority is spending less in terms of grants, people in this group have self-organised and are able to carry on activities with absolutely minimum money.

I use every opportunity to participle in local events, festivals and community events to raise awareness of wellbeing and mental health, using a holistic approach rather than speaking directly about the subject. Starting conversations with people is the first step to get people talking. I avoid using the words ‘mental health’ as this has a particularly derogatory meaning. I get people talking first, gain their trust, then go on to speak about wellbeing and health. I let people open up and then slowly talk about stigma and discrimination. I personally find it easier and more effectives to follow this informal approach.

Mental health and wellbeing is challenging, not just for individuals and families, but also for communities and society in general. I endorse that Time to Change conversations change lives – conversation is the first step for help and support.