At AFSP, our mission is to save lives and bring hope to those affected by suicide.

This May, join us at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention in honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. This important month pays tribute to the rich history, heritage, and achievements of cultures from all of the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia.

AAPI Month coincides with Mental Health Awareness Month, giving all of us at AFSP, as well as our wonderful community, the unique opportunity to consider the need for culturally competent mental health care within historically marginalized communities, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

We invite you to spend time exploring the following stories and resources that reflect specifically on mental health and suicide prevention in Asian communities:

“Asian in American With Richard Lui” –– Listen to this episode of AFSP’s Strong Talk podcast, in which our Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement Victor (Vic) Armstrong, MSW, talks with breaking news anchor Richard Lui about what it’s like to achieve great success while occupying space in a complex cultural environment.
Volunteer Spotlight Story: Karen Ng –– In a heartfelt Volunteer Spotlight story for our 2024 Annual Report, Hawai’i Chapter volunteer Karen Ng opens up about losing her younger sister Karine to suicide in 2018, and what it was like growing up as a Chinese American daughter of immigrant parents. You can read Karen’s full story at the link.
Mental Health Resources for AAPI Communities –– Read our roundup of national mental health and suicide prevention resources focused on supporting AAPI individuals. We hope you use this list to learn more and find support, and encourage you to share it widely with your communities.
Elevating Voices for Long-Lasting Change –– Watch previous episodes of our Elevating Voices for Long-Lasting Change town hall series, including:
- "Culture and Mental Health in South Asian Communities" –– Moderated by AFSP's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, with panelists Dr. Dimple Patel, Dr. Zheala Qayyum, and Dr. Deepak Penesetti.
- "Mental Health in Asian American and Pacific Islander Families" –– Moderated by AFSP's Chief Medical Officer Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, with panelists Dr. Howard Liu, Dr. Jenny Wang, and Dr. Becky Wong.
- "Supporting AAPI Communities: Mental Health Experiences, Discrimination and Reducing Stigma" –– Moderated by Washington Post journalist Marian Chia-Ming Liu, MBA, with panelists Dr. Christine Yu Moutier, Dr. Rona Hu, and Dr. Chris Hahm.

This May and beyond, join us in raising awareness about mental health and suicide prevention in the AAPI community.

Support suicide prevention by donating to AFSP today!

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