Happy Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month! This month is a celebration of Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian culture, history, and identity. We wanted to put together a list of AANHPI mental health heroes to highlight this Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month!&nbsp;It is wonderful to have a month to celebrate and spotlight amazing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders in the mental health space. However, it is important to recognize and give flowers to diverse communities all year round. We hope this article acts as a resource for AANHPI mental health heroes that you can use all year.&nbsp;<h3>Social Media Accounts:</h3>If you’ve heard of the social media wormhole, you know how important it is to fill your feed with diverse personalities and perspectives. Here are some social media accounts you can follow to hear from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders who are involved in mental health.&nbsp;@asiansformentalhealth– Dr. Jenny Tzu-Mei Wang is a Psychologist, Speaker, Author, and a mental health advocate. Dr. Wang started an online mental health community for Asian Americans while destigmatizing the conversation around mental health.&nbsp;@the.mindful_healer– Dr. Monica P. Band is a trauma-informed therapist who advocates for culturally competent mental health care for Asian mental health. She shares information about how to navigate mental health challenges.&nbsp;@dr.han.ren – Dr. Han Ren is a therapist, speaker, and educator who advocates for intersectional and widespread mental health care.&nbsp;@asianmentalhealthproject – The Asian Mental Health Project is a nonprofit that is attempting to make the conversation around mental health more approachable, especially for the Asian community.&nbsp;@naapimha– the National AAPI Mental Health Association is a non profit that supports the mental health and well- being of the AANHPI community. Their instagram provides information about mental health partners and how to best access mental health information.&nbsp;<h3>Peer Supporter Spotlight: Layla G</h3>We asked our peer supporter, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://peers.net/peer-supporters/layla-g?_gl=1*sj182g*_up*MQ..*_ga*NjMxMTM0MzI0LjE3MTcwNzEyODk.*_ga_H5SXK15P1X*MTcxNzA3MTI4Ny4xLjAuMTcxNzA3MTI4Ny4wLjAuMA..">Layla G</a>, if she wanted to share anything about her experience as a member of the AANHPI community and an individual in the mental health space.&nbsp;Here is what she had to say! <img src="https://lh7-us.googleusercontent.com/1umI-f7Buy1oH5au6RZIoictsgmLNaQT5JkAraRQGNZd_Le1j9axebze_HUk9nbZbJgicYrGs1922juWr9fTO_HZSBFxezDS4iDUQzG9I5u8LRqDkHexmic_Bs07_V9Zac8mPMczg3F--yRuvDU-pjE" width="262" height="260">“It has always been a true balancing act to juggle being a full-time student, a full-time worker, and a first-gen everything – but it felt extraordinarily challenging to balance it all during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only was I working on the frontlines as a healthcare professional, but there was an even heavier weight at home.&nbsp;My sister, who is someone I have always felt incredibly close to, began contemplating suicide. Our cultural background unfortunately made it especially difficult for her, a sophomore in high school with the extra pressure to “do well” and get accepted to a good university, to openly share or seek help for her struggles. The deep stigma that surrounds mental health prevented her from confiding in anyone, including me, despite my passion to become a counseling psychologist.&nbsp;She eventually decided to move back into our family home – and while there was some relief in that, it created quite a tough and uncomfortable situation for us all. Our parents seemed to be somewhat in denial and resistant to seeking help for themselves – and to be honest, I don’t think they even knew what type of support or resources they needed. They also seemed to harbor feelings of disappointment, while my sister was experiencing a sense of guilt.&nbsp;As I found myself in the middle of this complex family dynamic, I felt I had the responsibility to be the glue that helped everyone – to be that pillar of empathy, understanding, and resourcefulness for everyone around me. Thankfully, as part of my days are spent providing mental health support to young people in need, I knew several resources (such as the 988 national suicide line and local therapy practices), so I was able to help my sister navigate them and get access to the help she needed.&nbsp;While I’m proud to have supported my entire family through this troubling time, this experience also really emphasized for me the importance of prioritizing self-care. I now realize the huge toll it took on me: in my efforts to support everyone, all while maintaining my university studies, I was stretching myself way too thin. My grades dropped, and my overall mental and emotional well-being quickly deteriorated.&nbsp;However, this time of struggle also sparked a new light within me – one of hope and of action. Reflecting back on that time, it became evident to me how much in those months I would have really needed someone else to talk to – someone who was “outside” our inner circle, yet from a similar enough background that they could truly understand the cultural and familial pressures I was facing. Traditional mental health services are invaluable, but sometimes connecting with someone who “really gets it” can make a world of difference.That’s why I’m so grateful to have become a Peer Support Specialist. Now I get to be *that safe space* for others. As someone who has faced a number of challenges, I’m here to connect, listen actively, offer empathy, and share the coping mechanisms I’ve learned on my own journey. No matter what we are going through, we are never alone. There is so much power in reaching out for help, and there is always a community waiting to support us on our journey to mental well-being.&nbsp;“Life is not what you alone make it. Life is the input of everyone who touched your life. And every experience that entered it. We are all a part of one another.”– Yuri Kochiyama , American civil rights activistIn Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, there’s a really strong emphasis on community inclusion &amp; support, which is something that makes perfect sense to me. This quote from Yuri Kochiyama reminds us that our journeys are all about the connections we make, and the experiences we share.”You can read more about Layla’s experiences and book a session with her <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://peers.net/peer-supporters/layla-g?_gl=1*tg0nox*_up*MQ..*_ga*NDQxMjUwNTQyLjE3MTcwNzcyMjc.*_ga_H5SXK15P1X*MTcxNzA3NzIyNi4xLjAuMTcxNzA3NzIyNi4wLjAuMA..">here</a>!<h3><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.peers.net/2024/05/24/what-it-feels-like-my-journey-with-depression-as-an-asian-american-woman/">What it Feels Like: My Journey With Depression as an Asian American Woman</a></h3>This month, we also got the opportunity to learn from Kim, one of our Peer Advisory Committee members about her experience with mental health as a member of the AANHPI community. Here is a snippet of what she shared:“I want other Asian Americans, especially women and girls, to know that they don’t have to grapple with their pain alone or mask their struggles. It’s okay to not be okay, and there is no shame in seeking the support you need, whether it’s therapy, medication, or simply having a safe space to be vulnerable”You can read her full story <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://blog.peers.net/2024/05/24/what-it-feels-like-my-journey-with-depression-as-an-asian-american-woman/">here</a>!<h3>Additional Resources</h3>Beyond these amazing personalities in mental health, here are some additional resources specifically for the AANHPI community.&nbsp;Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) – Provides a directory of AANHPI mental health providers and resources:<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://aapaonline.org/"> https://aapaonline.org/</a>National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) – Offers a resource list and information on AANHPI mental health: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.naapimha.org/resources">https://www.naapimha.org/resources</a>Asian Mental Health Collective – Has an online directory to find AANHPI-focused therapists: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.asianmhc.org/">https://www.asianmhc.org/</a>NAMI Asian American and Pacific Islander (NAMI AAPI) – The AANHPI division of the National Alliance on Mental Illness provides support and education: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-Programs/NAMI-Affiliates/NAMI-Asian-American-Pacific-Islander">https://www.nami.org/Get-Involved/NAMI-Programs/NAMI-Affiliates/NAMI-Asian-American-Pacific-Islander</a>Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) – Provides a behavioral health treatment locator to find AANHPI-serving providers: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/">https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/</a> &nbsp;

Hannah Johns

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