Intro Pata: I am also the director of NAAPIEN, National Asian American Pacific Islander Empowerment Network, which is a network of AAPIs with lived experience of mental health challenges. #familycaregiver

•A1: Mental health impacts everything! In communities of color, mental illness can be stigmatized and silenced. This means that people are not getting help who need it. #familycaregiver

A1: For instance, Asian Americans who are struggling with mental health issues are 50% less likely to receive care than their white counterparts. #FamilyCaregiver

A2: There are so many barriers: lack of culturally appropriate services, language barriers, lack of insurance, lack of transportation, inability to leave work for appointments, lack of childcare, stigma, misinformation about treatment, etc. . . #FamilyCaregiver

A2: We need q pipeline to fund POC going into mental health fields and mentorship programs to help POC provides navigate the field. #FamilyCaregiver

A2: Unfortunately, research has shown lack of cultural competence in mental health care. This can result in a misdiagnosis and inadequate treatment. #FamilyCaregiver

A3: We need to talk about mental health everywhere. We need to break the silence and provide accurate information to communities in their language paying attention to the cultural context. #FamilyCaregiver

We need to explore the concept of cultural humility as we work to reduce the stigma. #FamilyCaregiver

A4: I think caregivers have the opportunity to shape how members of the family view mental health. If the caregivers are accurately informed and understand the concerns of the person for whom they are caring, they can share their perspectives. #FamilyCaregiver

Caregivers, though, shouldn't take the agency from the person with lived experience to speak for themselves. They/we can be great allies. #FamilyCaregiver

For more info on IFF avoiceatthetable.org/index.html #FamilyCaregiver

There are a lot of good online resources that might be a place to start. #FamilyCaregiver

Understand that it takes time and is a process. Ideas usually don't change overnight. #FamilyCaregiver

Q6: One of the ways I have seen folk combat the systemic racism is through creating networks like the Facebook group, BIPOC Mental Health Professionals, or the planning committee for the Asian American Mental Health forum in MA. #FamilyCaregiver

Q6: The Asian American Mental Health Forum is virtual and free on Saturday, July 30th. To register: bit.ly/AAMHF2022. #FamilyCaregiver

#FamilyCaregiver

A7: I would suggest that you look for community specific resources and realize that an organization that focuses on housing for instance, may have referrals to other organizations that they can suggest. #FamilyCaregiver

Go to culturally specific sites. If you are interested in Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander mental health, check out NAAPIMHA naapimha.org #FamilyCaregiver

•A8: For better mental health in minority communities, I will continue to work at the intersection of racial equity and suicide prevention, as well as in the AANHPI communities to de-stigmatize mental health. I will continue speak out and tell my story. #FamilyCaregiver

Thank you FFDA for hosting this important discussion! #FamilyCaregiver