Mental Health Awareness
Learn about the special challenges facing the Asian American community in Belmont and beyond. Let’s work together to get our kids and our neighbors the help they need!
In May 2023, the Belmont Pan-Asian Coalition (BPAC) is bringing awareness to the mental health challenges that affect our Asian American community here in Belmont and across the United States.
May is a special month - it’s both Mental Health Awareness Month and AAPI Heritage Month.
In our own Belmont schools, 10% of Asian American middle school and high school students reported making a suicide plan - this was higher than any other racial group except for Multiracial students (15%) (Source: 2021 Youth Behavior Risk Survey).
And yet, did you know that 4 in 5 Asian Americans with probable mental health challenges don’t seek care? This is the highest of any racial group in the United States. It’s time to take action and get our kids the resources they need.
To learn more, you can follow Belmont Pan Asian Coalition on Facebook or @belmontpanasian on Twitter. If you have a minute, please take BPAC’s one minute survey that we will use to guide future programming. We want to make sure we’re meeting your needs!
Resources addressing AAPI mental health:
Asian American / Pacific Islander Communities and Mental Health, Mental Health America
The Mental Health Impact of Anti-Asian Racism, American Psychological Association
Why Asian Americans Don’t Seek Help for Mental Illness, McLean Hospital
If you or someone you love is struggling with suicidal thoughts or other mental health challenges, please call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or text “HELLO” to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Hotline