By Ingrid Padgett, Yale PRCH

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, New England MHTTC centered lived experience. One of the best ways to gain insight and awareness is through inquiry and dialogue that generates positive ideas and actionable next steps. With this in mind, we prioritized opportunities to learn more about the multitude of mental health experiences within Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the New England region.
 

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing racial groups in the United States, comprising over 20 million people (Pew Research Center, 2021). Despite the growth of this population, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are less likely to seek mental health services than other racial and ethnic groups.Moreover, often this population faces unique challenges when accessing mental health care, such as language barriers, cultural concerns around mental health, and lack of awareness of available resources (Asian American Psychological Association, 2019).

Through our outreach efforts, we create safe spaces to cultivate strong partnerships for equitable and healthier communities. Make plans to listen and learn more about behavioral health care providers, agencies, community-based organizations, and nonprofits promoting the mental health and well-being of underserved communities. In July, as part of our Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, New England MHTTC will host a Diversity and Inclusion Project Showcase (DIPS) to amplify the work of CBOs/local nonprofits supporting mental health and advancing substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery in diverse communities. Through this initiative, a replicable model of the SAMHSA Region 1 Office:

• CBOs/local nonprofits get to showcase their work to potential funders and access the training and technical assistance needed to propel their efforts.
   
• Stakeholders learn about on-the-ground success implementing recovery-oriented behavioral health practices in diverse communities.
   
• CBOs/local nonprofits serving historically marginalized populations gain visibility, which in turn, increases their viability.

Learn more about resources for mental health professionals, the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and allies from across the MHTTC Network. We hope you will join us in taking time throughout the year to learn more and to use what you learn to increase the availability of culturally responsive mental health services for underserved communities.