Supporting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health
This page is regularly updated with new resources and information.
Native Hawaiians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders have the lowest help-seeking rate for mental health services of any racial/ethnic group. This may be due to the many systemic barriers to accessing mental health care and quality treatment, such as the disparity between the high demand and poor availability of linguistically and culturally appropriate mental health service providers. Cultural identity, faith, stigma, immigration status, and fear of disclosing needs may also all play a role.
The list below contains a variety of mental health resources for the Native Hawaiian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community. For more information on culturally competent care, visit NAMI’s page about the AANHPI community and mental health care.
Pieces from our You Matter Blog Centered Around AANHPI Mental Health:
Jade’s Piece on AANHPI Book Recommendations
Charlotte’s Piece on Understanding Mental Health as a Multiracial Individual
Ananya’s Piece on Culture and Mental Health
Alyssa’s Piece on Access to Mental Health Care
Matt J.’s Piece on Representation
HELPFUL RESOURCES
Mental Health and Well-being Resources
National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA)
NAAPIMHA’s mission is to promote the mental health and well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. NAAPIMHA strives to raise awareness of the role of mental health in an individual’s health and well-being, especially in Asian American Pacific Islander communities throughout the country.
Mental Health America AAPI resources
Mental Health America provides data on mental health in AAPI communities, issues that might affect AAPI populations relating to mental health, access to resources and insurance, and a list of resources and partnerships that may be useful.
The Asian Mental Health Collective
The Asian Mental Health Collective’s mission is to normalize and de-stigmatize mental health within the Asian community. They aspire to make mental health easily available, approachable, and accessible to Asian communities worldwide. They offer a community blog, therapist directory, and more.
Asian American Suicide Prevention and Education
The Asian American Suicide Prevention & Education is a joint project of the Asian American Federation and Hamilton-Madison House. Information regarding the Asian Lifeline Hotline can be found on this site (Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, and Fujanese are offered), as well as educational resources.
A Mental Wellness Activity Book for Asian Americans
The University of Connecticut’s Asian and Asian American Studies Institute has partnered with the #IAMNOTAVIRUS campaign and the Asian American Literary Review to provide students with this Mental Health Workbook. It includes journals, poetry, literature, and more resources to help support Asian American mental health.
The National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN)
The NQTTCN focuses on providing mental health resources and advocacy for queer and trans people of color, offering a directory of culturally competent practitioners who understand and respect their diverse identities and experiences.
The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)
The NQAPIA works to build up the capacity of local grassroots LGBTQ+API groups through advocacy, activism, and resource development.
National Organization for People of Color Against Suicide
NOPCAS serves as the only national organization of its kind addressing the issue of suicide prevention and intervention, specifically in communities of color.
Asian American Health Initiative
This list of resources compiled by the Asian American Health Initiative aims to connect Asian Americans with health and wellness
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective
Open Path Psychotherapy Collective is a non-profit nationwide network of mental health professionals dedicated to providing middle and lower-income level individuals, couples, families, and children with access to affordable psychotherapy and mental health education services. (cost range from $30-$60 for individual sessions).
Civil Rights and Advocacy:
Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
AAJC is the voice for the Asian American community – the fastest-growing population in the U.S. – fighting for their civil rights through education, litigation, and public policy advocacy. AAJC serves to empower communities by bringing local and national constituencies together and ensuring Asian Americans are able to participate fully in our democracy.
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)
SAALT is a national movement strategy and advocacy organization committed to racial justice through structural change, which means they focus on transforming institutions while leveraging incremental change as a means to shift conditions and power.
National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA)
NaFFAA’s mission is to promote the welfare and well-being of Filipino Americans throughout the United States by amplifying their voices, advocating on behalf of their interests, and providing resources to facilitate their empowerment.
EPIC
EPIC is a national organization that promotes social justice by engaging Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities through culturally relevant advocacy, research, and leadership development.
STOP AAPI HATE
In response to the alarming escalation in xenophobia and bigotry resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Asian Pacific Planning and Policy Council (A3PCON), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University launched the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center on March 19, 2020. The center tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
National CAPACD
National CAPACD is a progressive coalition of local organizations that advocate for and organize in low-income AANHPI communities and neighborhoods. We strengthen and mobilize our members to build power nationally and further our vision of economic and social justice for all.
The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond
The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB) focuses on understanding what racism is, where it comes from, how it functions, why it persists, and how it can be undone. “Our workshops utilize a systemic approach that emphasizes learning from history, developing leadership, maintaining accountability to communities, creating networks, undoing internalized racial oppression, and understanding the role of organizational gatekeeping as a mechanism for perpetuating racism.”
The Center for Healing Racial Trauma
The Center for Healing Racial Trauma offers services and trainings designed to heal racially/ethnically marginalized people from Racism.
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