We are working with our Ambassador Ksavi Joshi (Shetal) on vital research to help build a picture of the support needed for bereaved South Asian mothers and fathers in the UK.
Together we have launched a survey to help us better understand the support needed from Sands and within communities for South Asian parents whose baby has died. By hearing the experiences of parents we hope to be able to support bereaved parents in South Asian communities in the way that works best for them.
Ksavi's second son Shivai died in 2015 when he was almost eight months old. She is passionate about breaking the silence around baby loss in the South Asian community, where this subject is still taboo for many. She is also keen to ensure that more bereaved parents and families find the bereavement support they need.
If you are a South Asian parent affected by pregnancy or baby loss please take our short anonymous survey below.
And do share this link with anyone you know who may also wish to take part.
Share as much as you are able to about your experience of baby loss and the support you received or would have wished for.
It’s so important to reach out to our communities. When Shivai first died, other than a few other individuals that had experienced child loss and who I had conversations with, it was very private.
When this happened to us, I wanted to talk about Shivai, but there was radio silence. I felt in those moments hugely lonely. It wasn’t until Madhu Bedi was introduced to me that I forged an incredible friendship with someone that had been through what we had. That started to give me strength to talk about Shivai more openly amongst a private Facebook page accessible only to friends and family.
Over time I still felt every time I spoke about Shivai, I felt others were judging that I wasn’t coping with his death. That wasn’t the case at all, I wanted to be able to celebrate the life of my child, and felt there was no-where to do that publicly, without judgment and being a safe space. The Sands private groups gave me that.
Culturally, I found a gap in those really understanding Babyloss and talking and spreading the awareness around it limited in our communities. Today, six years on we are much better at it than we were before, but we still have some more way to go, and that’s why this survey really helps us put actions into place to support South Asian Bereaved Parents in a bigger way and in turn educate the networks around them to give them the support they need.
Shivai’s death taught me a lot and continues to, working with Sands and in his memory brings purpose and meaning to his life and legacy, and allows me to continue to walk along his rainbow supporting others.
- Ksavi Joshi, Sands Ambassador
Answering questions about your experience can sometimes churn up memories and we are here to provide support:
- 0808 164 3332
- helpline@sands.org.uk
- Sands Support Facebook Group