Sukhvinder Kaur talks New Book, Loneliness & Mental Health

In the realm of topical writing, Sukhvinder Kaur is a beacon of hope and courage.

Her self-help book, There is Light at the End of the Tunnel of Loneliness, was released on July 28, 2024.

The thought-provoking book explores themes of mental health as Sukhvinder bravely draws inspiration from her own experiences.

She shares everything that has helped her so readers can lead happier, more fulfilling lives.

Sukhvinder provides tips, resources, and support for people who are dealing with loneliness. 

In an exclusive chat with DESIblitz, Sukhvinder Kaur spoke about the book, and we are thrilled to share her insights with you.

What inspired you to write There is Light at the End of the Tunnel of Loneliness?

The reason that I wrote this self-help book was because I had a lovely childhood. I was brought up by lovely parents.

But in my adult life, my marriage broke down, and loneliness consumed me. When my ex-husband left, I had two young kids at the time. 

When I still had my family around, I had a community to go and speak to. But I was alone at night and not sleeping at all.

I used to think of all sorts of things that didn’t even resonate with me. I got really isolated.

I came out of my comfort zone and thought: “Is anyone else feeling this way?”

When I researched, I talked to my work colleagues and my community. 

I’ve been researching and note-taking for over ten years. I found the support that I use to combat loneliness and to lead a happy life.

So, I had all these notes, and people need help out there. I wanted to put everything that I’ve used to combat my loneliness out there so others can use it, too. 

I couldn’t find the right support. Nobody wanted to form support groups or workshops, and there was a lack of funding.

So, it came down to: “Let’s write a book.”

This is my first book.

As a new writer, what do you think writing can do to communicate a message?

When you are writing something, you are pouring out your mind, thoughts, and feelings. 

I felt if I wrote this self-help book, I hoped that readers would connect with the peace from the book.

They can find resources for healing within reach.

I just wanted to put skills, support, and resources in there. I went through loneliness, and I care. 

That’s why I’ve written this book for others. It’s for everybody. I found that life is a journey and loneliness can happen at any time.

If a child undergoes loneliness, they can take that through to their adulthood. They don’t know how to overcome it.

When I wrote this book, it was for every single person. 

Do you think that mental health is still a taboo in the Desi community, and what steps need to be taken?

In our community, despite these modern times, there is still a stigma around mental health. 

There is a barrier around this, which we need to step out of. 

There are resources and support. Not everyone knows about it.

We have a long way to go because there is also blame, guilt, and shame. We need to talk about it outside of homes and families, too.

There is a lot of stigma, but we are on the right path. 

Loneliness can be a killer, and people can feel suicidal. People do not take care of themselves, and that can lead to illnesses.

This is another reason why I wrote this book. People go through illnesses in their lives, but they are managed by medication.

When we talk about loneliness, you can become suicidal, which can lead to other things.

In our community, there is still work to be done. We live in a multicultural society, which includes every society.

Our parents and grandparents have taught us values and beliefs, and we put them into our generation.

I will say that this self-help book will save you from waiting for therapy. I effectively designed this book to have everything in it.

If you read this book, it will support you all the time.

How important do you think mental health charities are?

Mental health is very dear to my heart, and that’s why all the money raised from the book is going to mental health charities.

I’ve done a lot of research into charities and hospitals and how they work.

I would say that it’s important to reach out to them if you are feeling a certain way.

I know that if you call 111 and you press ‘Option Two’, you can immediately go to a Crisis Help Team.

But that is not enough. I’ve tried that myself, but there are a lot of steps in the process.

We have got a long way to go. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, there is only one unit for patients to receive mental health care on a 24-hour basis.

There are not enough beds in hospitals. If there is no facility in your home town, they can put you anywhere in the UK.

That is very difficult as well – leaving your loved ones and finding immediate support.

This 111 service is not enough. Looking at my research, there is not enough medication.

Mental health charities need all the support they can get. As I said previously, there is a long way to go, but we are going in the right direction.

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

With There is Light at the End of the Tunnel of Loneliness, I aim to inspire people to welcome growth and never stop striving for improvement.

I encourage readers to rediscover the beauty of people and the world.

I encourage you to pursue your dreams. Always remember you all matter.

You all bring to this world things nobody else does. 

I want readers to find the courage, joy and love they need to brave the storm and come out stronger.

I want this book to be a powerful beacon of hope, reminding you all that even in the darkest of times, there is always light.

Sukhvinder Kaur’s inspiring words about loneliness and emerging stronger are invaluable.

Her wisdom and courage shine in every page of her book.

There is Light at the End of the Tunnel of Loneliness, which contains Sukhvinder Kaur’s details. 

She added: “If anyone wants to reach out, please do so. It would be very nice to hear from you.”

This book is an outstanding resource that will help millions. 

Sukhvinder Kaur’s book is also due to be released in other Punjabi, which will transcend English-speaking borders.

This book is a fascinating read and you can buy your English copy here.