Culturally Competent Mental Health Care
for Asian Americans in NYC
At the Asian American Federation (AAF), we believe that every individual in our diverse community deserves access to mental health care in the language they are most comfortable with, provided by professionals who respect and understand their cultural background. AAF is committed to increasing awareness and reducing stigma associated with mental health within Asian American families.
Since 2017, AAF’s dedicated advocacy and research have significantly improved access to culturally competent mental health services for Asian Americans. We also convene the Asian American Mental Health Roundtable, a group of 12 community-based organizations that together serve over 11,000 Asian New Yorkers annually. Through our persistent efforts to secure increased funding, we’ve brought much-needed attention and resources to address the growing mental health care needs of our community, simultaneously breaking down barriers to care.
Mental Health Directory
Our innovative online Mental Health Directory is a comprehensive resource featuring 600 service providers fluent in over 19 Asian languages. This directory is a testament to AAF’s commitment to helping Asian New Yorkers find culturally relevant mental health support. Whether they are seeking counseling, education, or alternate forms of mental well-being, our directory is designed to connect community members with providers that align with their unique needs.
Asian Mental Health Hub
Our latest initiative, AAF’s Mental Health Hub offers worksheets, exercises, and other mental health tools for Asian Americans. Designed for providers, these resources can be used by anyone and are translated into multiple Asian languages to share with clients, family members, and loved ones.
A STORY FROM OUR MEMBER ORG
LATEST HIGHLIGHTS
LATEST RESEARCH
Recommendations to policy makers, legislators, funders, and the City of
New York to help them make informed decisions on how to advance equity and
inclusion in mental health policies and practices for Asian New Yorkers.
Asian Americans are one of the fastest-growing populations in the US and in New York State and City, but they have been largely ignored by the mental health system. They tend to use mental health services less often than other groups, which leads to a lack of research on their mental health needs and challenges.
The report calls for further investment in Asian-led and Asian-serving community-based organizations to lead efforts to expand community education programs and engagement around mental health, training for mental health service providers, and expansion of service capacity.