Shiv’s Project explores the complex interplay of mental health challenges within the South Asian community, particularly as these issues were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The play is being developed in partnership with local mental health advocacy organization Shiv’s Third Eye and the Indian Heritage and Cultural Association, through oral histories focused on interviews with family members and friends of the late Shiv Kulkarni, a Livingston, New Jersey teen who tragically lost his life to suicide in 2021. These oral histories document the personal experiences, perspectives, and coping mechanisms of those closest to Shiv, offering a window into the profound impact of his loss and the broader mental health crisis within the community. Shiv’s Project explores perceptions on mental health within New Jersey’s South Asian community, and generational understanding of its importance and impact.
