I am Selina Purewal, and my work is rooted in compassion, cultural understanding, and a deep commitment to supporting Asian women experiencing domestic abuse and mental health challenges. With a strong awareness of the complex social, cultural, and emotional pressures faced by women in Asian communities, I approach my work with a focus on empowerment, safety, and dignity.
I play a key role in running a specialist domestic abuse and mental health helpline designed specifically for Asian women. Through phone calls, text messages, emails, and webchat, I provide empathetic, confidential, and culturally sensitive support to women who may be experiencing coercive control, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, immigration-related pressures, or stigma surrounding mental health.
For many women, reaching out is the hardest step. I understand how much courage it takes to ask for help. My approach is trauma-informed and non-judgmental, ensuring every woman feels heard, believed, and supported. I carry out thorough risk assessments, safety planning, and crisis de-escalation, always prioritising both immediate and long-term safety. Where needed, I support women to access housing services, legal and immigration advice, mental health support, and other vital agencies, helping them navigate systems that can often feel overwhelming or inaccessible.
Cultural sensitivity is at the heart of my work. I have a strong understanding of the unique challenges faced by Asian women, including family and community pressures, language barriers, and the fear of shame or isolation. I actively promote culturally safe practices across the helpline, ensuring that support is accessible, respectful, and responsive to each woman’s lived reality.
Alongside frontline support, I am deeply involved in building and nurturing a dedicated volunteer team. I recruit volunteers through community networks and online platforms and deliver comprehensive training in domestic abuse, mental health, safeguarding, cultural competence, and helpline procedures. I provide ongoing supervision, reflective practice, and emotional support, recognising the importance of volunteer wellbeing in delivering a safe and reliable service. Through careful rota planning and team coordination, I help ensure the helpline remains consistently available to women who need it most.
I also contribute to service development and quality improvement. This includes supporting monitoring and evaluation, maintaining high safeguarding and record-keeping standards, and working closely with partner organisations to strengthen referral pathways. My strong organisational skills and confidence with IT systems help ensure the helpline operates safely, ethically, and in line with best-practice standards.
Above all, I am driven by one clear purpose: to ensure that no Asian woman feels alone, unheard, or unsafe. This work is not just a profession for me—it is a commitment to advocacy, empowerment, and lasting change.
