The Asian Mental Health Collective (AMHC) fosters healing, resilience and connection in Asian communities in the US through culturally-informed clinical services, virtual peer support spaces, and support for Asian mental health providers.

With the rapid development of and focus on personal well-being in individualistic societies, people are now more aware of the detrimental effects of poor mental health and mental illnesses than ever before. However, as members of the Asian Diaspora, there are often strong cultural underpinnings related to our mental health experiences that go unaddressed. Mental health issues do not exist in individuals only, and this is especially true for those who come from cultures that value collectivism. Experiences shaped by cultural ideals that value face, achievement, and filial piety are interwoven in the fabric of our understanding of the world. Intertwined with generations of exposure to trauma, these ideals, while not inherently unhealthy, are often expressed in ways that create dissonance for the children of the diaspora who live in increasingly globalized societies. It is apparent that there is a generational and cultural rift in many Asian families, with mental health woven through both overt confrontations and unspoken grievances as a result.

AMHC hopes to help bridge those divides.

They do not need, or want, to do away with centuries of beloved culture and tradition for the sake of mental health. AMHC believes in integrating our shared backgrounds with the progressive ideals of emotional well-being and mental health – expressing collectivist ideals while respecting the agency of the individual. It all begins with understanding. Through projects such as their Facebook group, resource library, video web-series, and meetup groups, they hope to not only provide mental health support, but also facilitate the difficult conversations we need to have to move forward together.