Asian
Asian people are people who are native to or have origins the continent of Asia.
Asian Mental Health Collective
The Asian Mental Health Collective (AMHC) is a volunteer-run nonprofit that aims to normalize and destigmatize mental health within Asian communities by making mental health conversations and treatment available, accessible, and approachable. Our services and programs support our mission by providing individuals with opportunities to connect with their inner selves, create supportive and empathetic communities, collaborate with mental health professionals and organizations, and celebrate their Asian mental health stories
The Lotus Therapy Fund provides 8 sessions of free therapy to individuals in need, matching them with an Asian therapist with availability to see new patients. Currently, Lotus Therapy Fund has providers licensed to practice in 42 states, with the ability to offer both in person and telehealth options. Therapists in our network are paid directly by AMHC, eliminating the administrative burden of coordinating with insurance companies. AMHC supports therapists by providing highly popular free trainings with continuing education credits providers need in order to maintain their licenses. This ensures that our community receives excellent therapy and keeps providers incentivized to participate.
a directory of organizations and hotlines that raise awareness about mental health and offer support in the Asian community.
Asian Mental Health Collective (AMHC) hosts an annual virtual conference, “TransformAsian,” which alludes to transformations, and our belief in the power of change and the importance of celebrating recovery.
AAPI Equity Alliance
The AAPI Equity Alliance (AAPI Equity) is dedicated to improving the lives of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through civic engagement, capacity building, and policy advocacy.
“Stop AAPI Hate is the nation’s largest reporting center tracking acts of hate against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Thanks to the support of respondents across the U.S. they have documented thousands of cases of anti-Asian and anti-Pacific Islander hate from verbal harassment to physical assault to discriminatory treatment at schools and businesses, helping to paint a vivid picture of racism and its effect on the AAPI community.”
In LA and LA County where AAPI make up 12% and 16% of the population respectively, it is important they are properly represented in government. The AAPI Equity Alliance created a resume bank of those who identify as Asian America Pacific Islander with credentials for public service in order to create a pool of “talented AAPIs for elected officials in LA looking to hire staff at all levels or fill commissions and boards.”
South Asian
South Asian people are people with origins in one of seven South Asian Countries – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and the Maldives
South Asian Sexual and Mental Health Alliance
SASMHA’s goal is to fight cultural stigmas, educate, and empower the South Asian American community by providing resources on the issues most important to us, from sex and sexuality to mental health. SASMHA’s founders discuss identity, mental health, healthy relationships, sexual health, and other brown taboo topics on their podcast, “Brown Taboo Project.”
Contact: info@sasmha.org
The South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network
South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network, SAMHIN, was formed in 2014 to address a broad range of mental health needs of the growing South Asian community in the United States, beginning with New Jersey.
“The divorced women’s support group is for South Asian women who are separated, divorced, or contemplating divorce and struggling to cope with the challenges, including stigma and shame. Our meetings are peer support groups led by trained facilitators who have experienced and moved past the challenges of divorce. The group provides a safe, confidential, non-judgmental space for participants to express their thoughts, feelings, challenges, and difficulties in coping with the stigma and shame associated with divorce.”
Time: First & Third Tuesday of Every Month, 7:30pm to 8:30pm EST [VIRTUAL]
“Our meetings are offered to anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide. Survivors can be family, friends, co-workers, and so on. The meetings are run as peer support groups and facilitated by trained facilitators. They offer an opportunity for participants to focus on and express their thoughts, feelings, challenges, and difficulties in coping with the loss. The atmosphere is supportive, non-judgmental, and confidential.
There is no time table for grief. Listening to the encouraging words from other suicide loss survivors who share their stories gives hope. Grief work and time will allow survivors to move beyond just survival. While the stories of survivors may differ, the aftermath that suicide survivors experience shares a common thread.”
Time: Second and Fourth Monday of Each Month, 8:00pm to 9:00pm EST [VIRTUAL]
“Many find it empowering and effective to attend local Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings. AA meetings are free and are offered in every town. Many South Asians avoid attending AA meetings because they feel culturally out of place. South Asian AA meetings are held in Central New Jersey. SAMHIN encourages those with drinking problem to attend AA meetings. South Asian AA meetings, like all other AA meetings, are run by the AA members, independent of SAMHIN.
Hospitalized Alcoholic Patients
A hospitalized alcoholic South Asian patient can call an AA member at one of the numbers below or, with the patient’s permission, the hospital staff can call the member on behalf of the patient. The member will visit/contact the patient to provide guidance and information on AA recovery. This will help in improving the chances of follow-up care and recovery.”
Time: EVERY Monday 8:00pm to 9:00pm EST, EVERY Thursday 8:00pm to 9:00pm EST [Virtual]
“This Mental Wellness Support Group offers a supportive, nonjudgmental, and confidential space for participants to discuss their experiences related to mental health, stigma, bi-cultural identity, life challenges, stress, and more. The group is run by two facilitators in their 20s and 30s.”
Time: Second & Fourth Tuesday of every month 7:00pm to 8:00pm EST [Virtual]
Contact: mentalwellness@samhin.org | 908-510-5706 (Mook Bangalore)