Category Archives: AAPI Families

Mental Health Resources For Black, Indigenous, And People Of Color

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The challenges we face in mental health as BIPOC people are quite complex. First, our cultural identities as BIPOC people may greatly differ from each other, socially and culturally; this can add an even more difficult layer of challenge to mental health as a person of color. Secondly, lack of cultural understanding can also have a role in mental health challenges for BIPOC communities. It may seem easy to put a (one size fits all) label on mental health, however this is not how we should go about our mental health and generational healing. The questions we should be asking are; how do we as a diverse community heal together, without devaluing each other or totally disregarding another?, and how do we establish better equity in mental health specifically designed for AAPI / BIPOC individuals and our communities?.

Now, let us have a look at some in depth information on our unique mental health needs and resources. So often, when seeking help we tend to get just the basic in care, or even at times no care at all due to racial disparities and inequities in the health care system. Some of the factors contributing to lack of care may also be:

  • Lack of insurance, or underinsurance
  • Mental stigma which may be greater in AAPI / BIPOC communities
  • Lack of diversity amongst mental healthcare providers
  • Lack of providers with a diverse cultural worldview or cultural competence
  • Distrust in mental health care system
  • Inadequate support for mental health service in safety net settings

Ruth Simmons a former Brown University President, explained in a Washington Post article, individuals who are the target of racist actions “must move through the world limited by sometimes invisible or unpredictable restrictions on their movements, their behavior and their words … Determining how to live life openly and productively in the face of such attacks on one’s existence is a lifelong task.”

Healthforward.org

Photo Credit: NIH.GOV

It is absolutely crucial that we develop better cultural competence in mental health care, with better cultural competence in mental heath we can establish stronger and more interconnected engagement between healthcare providers and those seeking health care. Georgetown University’s National Center for Cultural Competence stated, “A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system, agency or among professionals and enable that system, agency or those professions to work effectively in cross-cultural situations.” Therefor a more diverse health care team, health care professionals with a deeper cultural worldview, and specialized culturally diverse training is certainly needed in reducing inefficiencies in mental health care.

Shared below are links to diverse mental health resources:

https://beam.community/

https://www.therapyforlatinx.com/

https://aapaonline.org/

https://www.wernative.org/

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

This is a great article on Cultural Respect by the National Institutes of Health; https://www.nih.gov/institutes-nih/nih-office-director/office-communications-public-liaison/clear-communication/cultural-respect

References : https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Diverse-Populations.pdf

Social Support and Technology Use and Their Association With Mental and Physical Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Asian Americans: The COMPASS Cross-sectional Study

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The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, causing a major gap in equality, and increased racism and xenophobia. The pandemic has intensified the isolation among AAPIs, who are more culturally collective. Technology use has given some support during the social distancing, however seniors and older adults may not have the same social support from technology use.

You can read more about social support and technology use and their association with mental and physical health during COVID-19 at: https://publichealth.jmir.org/2023/1/e35748

A SAFE PLACE TO BE

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This article discusses the clinical needs for youth and the families of youth in crisis. The clinical needs of children and youth are different than that of adults, much care needs to be taken in establishing health services that can help the needs of children and their families in crisis.

https://www.nasmhpd.org/sites/default/files/2023-01/Safe-Place-to-Be_Childrens-Crisis-and-Supports_NASMHPD-4.pdf

Check out the Asian Smokers’ Quitline during Lunar New Year Celebration

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Prepare to Celebrate the Year of the Dog

The first day of Lunar New Year is on Feb 16, 2018 and it’s fast approaching! ASQ would like to wish everyone will have a fresh start in the year of the dog!

Getting ready for the new year

Some of the Asian community members may be busy with getting ready for the Lunar New Year and thinking about a resolution for the year of the dog, ASQ has prepared a pack of lucky red envelopes which will be given to each caller who calls ASQ to inquire quit smoking materials or to complete an online enrollment to receive quit smoking service. Red symbolizes good fortune in Chinese and Vietnamese cultures, that is why red envelopes are widely used during Lunar New Year and other celebratory events.

To celebrate the year of the dog and to wish everyone will have a healthy start of the New Year, these red envelopes are given out to Chinese and Vietnamese callers from now till Feb 20. While supplies last!

Help Smokers Quit

You can assist community members or patients to make a quit attempt by making direct referrals via ASQ web-based referral website or assist them to fill out an online enrollment form by going to one of the in language forms below:

简体中文
繁體中文

한국어

Tiếng Việt

Minnesota Increasingly Multilingual

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image by MPR News

It’s not hard to notice, especially in the Twin Cities area, of all the different languages we hear, at work, at school, out shopping, on public transits. Even in some rural areas, that has also become more common.

With the different languages, it is also not hard to imagine the different clothing, different cultures, different cuisines, etc., that come along with the people that speak the languages.

MPR files a report on how a family navigates in a bicultural world…

https://www.mprnews.org/story/2017/12/07/census-shows-minnesota-increasingly-multilingual

 

Minnesota

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Image belongs to rightful owner

Searching the internet for the best and most exciting news and events in our community left me feeling very sad. With multiple tabs opened of websites from different local news reporting sources, all I could find were the negatives. Majority of the news that popped up were the major reports that involved the whole country or the really big negative events in Minnesota. There weren’t much recognition to the positive things happening in our community. Reading about so many things happening made me feel many different emotions; sad, mad, scared, helpless, etc. I had to search else where for community news and events that showed the exciting and fun community Minnesota also has, other than all of the bad that does occur in other states too.

Realizing that even though I was overwhelmed with negative emotions, this was something to learn from. From all of the sad and negative news, we should definitely be aware and keep at the back of our mind to be prepared and safe from danger. Also, just because all we see may be negative things, that doesn’t mean there is no positivity or light at all.

Overall, negative news and what is happening right now is definitely something to keep up with so we can be aware. I am not trying to say that we need less negative news; in the end, it would just be nicer to also have more reports on the positive local community. For example, North Minneapolis has so many businesses, organizations, stores, and people trying to make it a better place for everyone. They offer so many opportunities to their local neighbors and even outsiders. I was able to have the opportunity to walk around the Northside and interview a couple of businesses and organizations. There are so many good things happening but no one really talks about them.

Minnesota is so vibrant and has such a great sense of community connection wherever you go. The diversity, community, nature, food, nightlife, families, etc. There are so many things to look forward to in Minnesota and I’m so thankful to be able to call it my home. I feel like we have to remember to look for the positive things and not let the negatives take over completely. Be aware and know but also spread positivity.  

A Reminder To Be One With The Community

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After reading the article titled “The Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research Walks Beside, Not In Front of, Diverse Hawaiian Communities to Control Diabetes,” it made me think about the good point that Dr. Marjorie Mau, a lead principal investigator of the Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research, addressed on how they walk beside the community rather than in front of them. When trying to help the community, I think that it is best to make them feel like family; to feel comfortable and at ease with you. With the information we get about health issues in our communities, it definitely makes us want to address it and help those who may need some guidance. With this, we have to also remember that we can not just try to budge into their lives and take over, even if it is for good intentions.

The article mentioned how the Partnership for Improving Lifestyle Interventions (PILI) project addressed obesity by adapting an existing weight loss education program. They used local languages and examples that were relevant to those in the community. There was also a program added to help participants with the support of family members and the community; this program was culturally adapted based on its community. Personally, I have never thought about letting myself be apart of a research. The whole concept of trying to improve health by researching is amazing but when I think about allowing research programs work on my body, it just doesn’t sound too pleasing, depending on what it is. So after reading this article, I realized that maybe it isn’t too bad. Also, I loved how the research program approached the topic of research and what they were focusing on. Without a doubt, I think that their approach/idea on research and community can be applied to other things.

Dr. Mau and the Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research definitely has good intentions to help the communities, mainly focused in Hawaii. The overall thought of walking besides them/the community and helping with issues they/the community care about can definitely help with the factor of gaining trust and opening up for help/guidance. Since our goal for the concept of Bicultural Healthy Living is to help support people in living healthily within cultures people adapt to, applying these ideas and strategies will greatly benefit the community and our goal.

Remember to lend out a helping hand but also remember to think about who those you help are as a person. Diversity is all around us but sometimes we forget that we live in a world where every culture is different but it is normal. Every community may be different so it is important to help with things that matter to them while making them feel like family.

 

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To read more about the article, “The Center for Native and Pacific Health Disparities Research Walks Beside, Not In Front of, Diverse Hawaiian Communities to Control Diabetes,” click the link: https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/news-events/features/community-health/diabetes-risk-and-native-hawaiians.html

Be Active!

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Asian Media Access is celebrating the many health benefits of outdoor parks and recreation activities in honor of July’s National Park and Recreation Month. National Park and Recreation Month highlights the important role local parks and recreation activities play in keeping our community(ies) strong and healthy. During the month of July we encourage people of all ages to get active outdoors!

Children with access to safe parks are more likely to be physically active — and active kids perform better in school. For people of all ages, physical activity can reduce the chances of becoming obese. Plus, spending time outdoors can improve mental health. Visit Discover the Forest, https://www.discovertheforest.org/?m=1, to search for a forest or park near you!

Keep up with our Facebook page, Bicultural Active Living Lifestyle, to stay updated on some of the latest events in the Minneapolis/Saint Paul Community. Also check out our Bicultural Active Living Lifestyle (BALL) webpage, http://ballequity.amamedia.org/, for more events and coverage. Together we can get our community(ies) to all the great programs that our public parks and recreational facilities offer.

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For more information on our events or just more about us,
email us at amamedia@amamedia.org
or call us at (612)376-7715

Shedding a Tear

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Having a couple of days off and building up the adventures to the awesome fireworks on the 4th has been amazing. Spending my weekend in Duluth, MN, I saw and realized a lot of things. People everywhere were in a very good mood and everyone was just so happy. This feeling that I was getting reminded me of how proud I am to be an American. There have been many things happening that has been hurting how I felt, about who I am and as an American. Being Asian American, a person of color, there were times when I felt like I did not belong, even though I was born in this country. I have many hopes for my country because I know it’s an amazing place. Times are hard but on the 4th of July, looking around and enjoying everyones’ smile and laughter, it made me feel at peace and very thankful.

            Happy and thankful, I remember why people love this place. The freedom and opportunities we can get here, it gives people hope. Despite all that has been happening, everyone still got together to celebrate Independence Day in America. The multiple fairs across the country just shows how much we all do love this place.

As fire works fly across the skies of America,

we watched in awe, as I shed a tear.

Master Of Meditation

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Image belongs to rightful owner.

Hello everyone. Did the title of this blog post get you? Sorry, it won’t be about the master of meditation but it will be about my thoughts and experience on meditation. Feel free to keep reading or if you aren’t interested, check out our other posts!!

Anyways, during my sophomore year in college, I had taken a class on religions of the world. Three fourths of the way through the class, there was an assignment that required us students to physically attend a religious event at a site of our choice. My friend, Nancy, and I decided to go to the Zen Meditation session at Bluestone Zen Practice Community (dedicated to the practice of Zen and the fundamentals of Buddhism). I never really thought about how hard meditation could be. It just seemed so easy, having to sit most of the time. After this session and lessons from class, I realized that meditation was more than just having your eyes closed and breathing.

Nancy and I entered the building not knowing what to expect. It was around 7am so there were no lights turned on. Curtains were not put up either so it created darker/dimmed lighting. Candles were lit and it was quiet, but in a way where everything just seemed so soothing and peaceful. The session finally started when it was time. We all sat on a pillow on the floor. There wasn’t much talking at all and so Nancy and I just did our best to follow along. The whole experience was eye opening, showing me that there is so much more to it. Having to clear my mind while meditating was so much harder than I thought. I kept talking to myself in my head and thinking about trying not to think. I just couldn’t seem to clear my mind, and still haven’t mastered it. In the end, I appreciated the art of meditating a lot more. I definitely saw how this could be a really good routine for my body and mind.

After reading the article written by Dr. Sanjay Gupta on lessons from meditating with the Dalai Lama, it made me feel a sense of comfort and happiness. He talked about how he had a personal one-on-one meditation session with the Dalai Lama. The part that I loved from his article was the part where he talked about how the Dalai Lama smiled and laughed while replying back with “After doing daily for 60 years, it is still hard.” I felt so comforted that someone as holy as the Dalai Lama was so sweet and encouraging. The overall article also talked about how Dr. Sanjay Gupta became a changed man because of this experience and the decision of applying what he learned to his everyday life routine.

Giving things a chance before judging was the reminder that came to me after this experience and again, after reading this article. Meditation is a way to calm the mind and help people with their body. It is just so cool to me now because there is such a deep meaning to it, and it helps a person in so many ways. Keeping the body healthy and staying in shape is so important but sometimes we forget to help the mind. Definitely give meditation a try. It won’t be easy but it will definitely benefit and satisfy you.

 

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I highly recommend you to read Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s article. Click the link below to go directly to the webpage.

http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/15/health/sanjay-gupta-dalai-lama-meditation/index.html