In 2010, RAMS spearheaded the first state, county, and city proclamation efforts to establish May 10 as the Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day in the State of California and the City and County of San Francisco. 

 

In 2021, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27) introduced the first congressional resolution to recognize May 10th as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day. This resolution calls upon Members of Congress to promote national awareness of mental health issues unique to the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) community and urges State and local health agencies across the nation to improve the quality and availability of mental health services for this population.

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This year, the national resolution will be introduced again on May 10th (see resolution text) , marking the 4th anniversary of National AANHPI Mental Health Day.

 

For NAAPIMHA, we celebrate this National AANHPI Mental Health Day within the context of today’s current realities, centering the mental health and well-being of young leaders from our communities who are advocating for Palestinian liberation while facing heightened violence and erosion of their civil rights, safety, and freedom of speech. We join our young leaders in advocating for the healing of all those impacted by genocide and continue to update our healing offering guide with the latest support groups, grief circles, and subsidized mental health services.

 

We acknowledge National AANHPI Mental Health Day will look different for everyone. For other community partners across the country, centering AANHPI mental health is taking the form of free mental health service offerings by AANHPI providers, mental health days for AANHPI community organizations, mental health advocacy, educational events, cultural celebrations, and more. See below for ways you can celebrate National AANHPI Mental Health Day and various events and organizations you can connect with around AANHPI mental health!