Abstract
This thesis portfolio presents two research projects that contribute to the understanding of mental health within Punjabi and South Asian contexts, each addressing distinct and underexplored dimensions of mental health experiences. Part A presents a scoping review focused on the impacts of colourism to South Asian mental health and well-being. Drawing on peer-reviewed and grey literature, the review identifies key patterns: the positioning of lighter skin as social capital, internalisation of colourist beliefs, implications to mental health and emerging resistance. Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and a visual mapping tool were used to interpret how distress is shaped across intersecting social levels. The review reveals significant gaps in geographic scope, demographic inclusion, and intersectional analysis. Colourism is shown to produce both psychological distress and conditional social capital, affecting belonging and mobility. The review maps the need for more culturally grounded and intersectional research. Part B is a qualitative paper that explores the culturally situated experiences of mental health recovery among Punjabi young adults in the United Kingdom. Using Reflexive Thematic Analysis, semi-structured interviews with 12 participants were analysed. Four themes were constructed. Participants described pervasive stigma shaped by familial expectations and cultural norms, alongside the emotional labour of navigating mental health systems ill-equipped to engage with their cultural contexts. Despite these barriers, peer support and community initiatives played a vital role in fostering belonging and supporting recovery. Activism also emerged as a transformative pathway, enabling participants to challenge stigma and redefine identity. By centring Punjabi voices, the study extends recovery theory, calling for mental health services to address systemic inequities and adopt more inclusive, responsive approaches to care.