A FILM director has shared his experiences of bipolar disorder as he prepares to screen a semi-autobiographical film in Harrow to highlight the social stigma of depression in the Asian community.

Azeem Khan, 46, will be at a question and answer session next week at the film's screening in Harrow.

The screening is part of a summer of events for Time to Change, a campaign to tackle the stigma of depression in the Asian community.

The short film, called Open Secrets, was made in 2008 and was funded through SHIFT, an organisation set up by the Department of Health.

Mr Khan was born in Peshawar, in Pakistan, and moved to England in 1970. He studied film at Manchester Metropolitan University between 1985 and 1989.

He became a director in the early Nineties and has worked for the BBC and ITV as well as making television commercials.

He said: “I was the only son with two sisters in the family and the son is expected to be the perfect member of the family. You’re meant to be all things to everyone.

“It was in my final year at university that I had to do a final project, which fell through at the last minute.

“I had to create another script and do the work in a matter of weeks and the stress during this time was enormous.

“I didn’t realise what was happening as it crept up on me unexpectedly. Being bipolar meant having swings in my mood with a lot of highs and lows.”

Mr Khan wants to tackle the issues of depression in the Asian community and erase the stigma concerning the illness.

He said: “The odd thing is that attitudes in Pakistan towards depression have altered incredibly over the years.

“I speak to my cousins there and they know all about it and the irony is that often Asians in this country can’t get their head around it.

“The first generation parents brought a lot of cultural baggage here and the stigma that was often attached to depression has come with it.

“The elders in India and Pakistan have evolved, which is the paradox, and are more clued up about it than ever.

“I had a breakdown a couple of years ago and my Pakistani friend shunned me and I felt so isolated at that time and to be honest quite wounded.

“He didn’t want anything to do with me.”

Mr Khan has been married to his wife, Atika, for four years and they live in Ilford.

He said: “She has been a great support to me for several years now. Being in a loving, married relationship has been critical for my recovery.

“I told her immediately about my problems and she was wonderful right from the beginning.

“The advice I would give to people in my position is to open to up their families and loved ones and talk about the situation as soon as possible.

“It’s important to find what makes you feel better. For me it was my wife. For others, it could be something different but hiding the condition due to fear of the community isn’t something people should do.

“Instead do the hard thing and be brave in sharing your thoughts.”

The free screening of Open Secrets will be at the VUE cinema, in St George’s Shopping Centre, and Mr Khan will hold a question and answer session after the film.

Doors open from 6pm. To book a free ticket contact campaigns@time-to-change.org.uk

Log on to www.time-to-change.org.uk or www.facebook.com/timetochange for more information.