Chanting, conversation and calm: HCA mental health program brings Brisbane community together
Hindu Council of Australia’s Queensland chapter combined Vishnu Sahasranamam chanting, expert talks and Reiki in a free community morning at Coopers Plains. BRISBANE, QLD: A free community program organised by the Hindu Council of Australia (HCA) Queensland chapter brought people together on Sunday 13 September for conversations about emotional wellbeing, spirituality, relaxation and social connection.
Titled Chanting for Mental Health – Vishnu Sahasranamam, the morning was held at Coopers Plains Library as part of HCA’s Hindu Spiritual Care activities. It was open to people of all backgrounds and levels of experience, and no prior knowledge of chanting or meditation was needed.
A quiet start
The program opened with a recitation of the Vishnu Sahasranamam, the Sanskrit hymn of the thousand names of Lord Vishnu, led by Sudha ji and the HCA devotional team. The session gave attendees a period of quiet reflection before the discussions began.
Professional perspectives
Psychiatrist Dr Sanjeev Ranjan, a visiting medical specialist at Pine Rivers Private Hospital, shared his professional view on mental health and wellbeing.
Dr Noel Kanagaraj, a philosopher, psychologist, author and motivational speaker, spoke about personal development, purpose and approaches to living a meaningful life.
A Reiki session led by Chaya Tiwari followed, giving attendees a chance to relax. The morning ended with food and refreshments, so people could talk informally.
Many paths to wellbeing, one room
By bringing together medical expertise, personal growth, spiritual practice, relaxation and time to socialise, the HCA program gave attendees several ways into the conversation about wellbeing. Holding it in a familiar community setting made these topics easier to approach.
Supporting a wider conversation on mental health
Mental health remains a significant issue across Queensland and Australia, and community organisations are increasingly seen as playing a role alongside clinical services in reaching people who might not otherwise engage with the topic. Programs like this one give multicultural communities a familiar, culturally grounded setting in which to talk about wellbeing, reduce stigma and connect people to further support if needed.
This work sits within HCA’s broader Spiritual Care program, which brings emotional and mental wellbeing support into community settings nationally. It reflects HCA’s wider mission to build a strong, cohesive Hindu community that lives in harmony with the broader Australian society, and its longstanding commitment to community welfare through initiatives such as its Benevolent Fund and Karma Kitchen.
An HCA Queensland representative said the program reflected values at the heart of the organisation’s approach to community wellbeing.
