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 marks the 5th anniversary of National AANHPI Mental Health Day.

 

National AANHPI Mental Health Day is a reminder to center the mental health needs of and celebrate the joy found within our diverse AANHPI communities and cultures. Despite current threats to our BIPOC, immigrant, 2SLGBTQIA+, and disabled communities and the mental health services and organizations who serve them, we move forward with celebrating National AANHPI Mental Health Day as a reminder that raising awareness around mental health will do more than just educate our communities and the general public about AANHPI mental health. It is designed to make meaningful change by amplifying the heart work of AANHPI serving behavioral health organizations, promote dialogue and strategies that reflect the cultural and language needs of the community, and engage the community in creating new ways of healing and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing.

 

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!