‘It literally kills people.’ Fresno’s first Punjabi Sikh center tackles therapy stigma
“Log ki sochenge” is a common phrase in Punjabi that translates to: “What will people think?”
“It literally kills people,” Prableen Kaur, Executive Director of the Khalsa Community Center, told The Bee. “They are not accessing treatment or help because they are so worried about what their family, friends or community are going to think.”
There is a significant stigma around mental health in the Punjabi Sikh community, with roots in the northern Indian state of Punjab, Prableen said. It’s often perpetuated by cultural beliefs that mental health issues are a burden and bring shame to a person’s family, which can prevent people from seeking help.
With this in mind, and a small team by her side, Prableen launched the world’s first non-profit Punjabi Sikh mental health and cultural center in the summer of 2024 in northwest Fresno, with the help of government grants.
Here, financial, language and cultural understanding barriers are removed for Punjabi residents.
The center works to break stigmas surrounding mental health by providing free therapy, cultural events and a support network for the Punjabi Sikh community, which is the first of its kind and has proven to be highly sought-after in Fresno.
Center had waitlist within a month
Upon the centers’ opening, organizers visited local high schools, police stations, hospitals and Sikh places of worship to spread the word about the free mental health and other services they offer.
“We thought it would be a huge struggle to get people through the door,” Prableen said.
Within a month, the center had a waitlist for its free therapy sessions with its one full-time therapist, Gulveen Kaur.
“Something that was surprising is that there are a lot of people that are open and that have just been looking for an outlet, and that it hasn’t been available,” Gulveen said.
Now, the center can’t add anyone else to the list because the wait time is up to six months. Those looking to start therapy at the center are put on an interest list, which then leads to the waitlist. The center might refer them to other Punjabi therapists.
“It’s sad that we can’t provide them that treatment straight away,” Prableen said.
The Khalsa Community Center is currently renting its location, at 4335 N Golden State Blvd, Suite 103, but is fundraising for its own permanent space, with hopes to expand the center and add additional therapists on staff.
‘Something permanent was really needed’
The Khalsa Community Center is a project by the Khalsa Foundation. This organization has been putting on week-long Sikh camping retreats across the world for years before the opening of the center, which Prableen is also the Executive Director of.
On these retreats, Prableen found that many people attending were struggling with their mental health. She recounted instances when participants opened up about past suicide attempts, suicidal thoughts and depression because they felt comfortable enough to do so in the retreat environment.
Organizers were then able to offer guidance, but the retreats are only one week long; afterward, those struggling were left to deal with their mental health struggles on their own.
“It’s like putting a bandage on for a little while, then it’s going to be pulled off,” Prableen said. “Something permanent was really needed.”
In October 2024, a Punjabi man died by suicide inside a Stanislaus County Gurdwara, a Sikh place of worship.
The San Joaquin Valley is home to a number of trucking businesses. Punjabi Sikh truckers make up about 20% of the nation’s trucking industry, and about 30 to 40% in California.
After a deadly crash in Florida in August, The Bee reported on the Valley’s Punjabi Sikh trucking community’s increased instances of harassment. Some drivers quit or refused to drive to Florida, where agricultural inspection checkpoints turned into immigration checkpoints.
In general, the U.S. trucking industry has been in a significant downturn since 2022. This has led to low rates, leaving many workers to struggle financially.
Center’s therapist understands Punjabi culture
The center’s therapist, Gulveen, speaks Punjabi and understands Sikh cultural and religious practices.
“It’s been an honor to be able to serve the community,” Gulveen said. “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do.”
Gulveen has heard from clients that it’s a relief knowing she understands the nuances of their culture and that there is no need to explain family or religious dynamics.
There have also been instances where parents whose children are in therapy through the center have an easier time communicating with their child’s provider, and are able to be more involved in their treatment than if the therapist only spoke English, Gulveen said.
“When they come here, we get it, she gets it,” Prableen said.
The center offers book clubs, senior events, Alcoholics Anonymous, music classes, multilingual tutoring, women’s empowerment programs and more. All of which are resources that Gulveen has been able to offer her clients on top of counseling.
City recognized Sept. 25 as Khalsa Community Center Day in Fresno
Councilmember Annalisa Perea recognized the center at a city council meeting, declaring Sept. 25 as Khalsa Community Center Day in Fresno.
“This center is more than a building, it’s a sanctuary for healing, growth, and connection,” Perea said in a Facebook post. “Through mental and physical wellness, spiritual development, art therapy, and the celebration of Punjabi-Sikh heritage, the Khalsa Community Center is uplifting families and strengthening community bonds.”
Although the center is designed to fill the gap for the Punjabi community, Prableen said that people from all diverse backgrounds are welcome and have been taking advantage of what center has to offer.
“Having that community, even if you are not accessing the mental health services, if you’re looking for community, if you’re isolated, if you’re an immigrant, if you’re any asylum seeker, it can be a nice place for you to connect,” Prableen said.
The Khalsa Community Center is celebrating its one-year anniversary event on October 18 from 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
This story was originally published October 18, 2025 at 5:30 AM.