Approximately
25% of Americans in a given year are impacted by mental health conditions
regardless of gender, age, race, religion and socioeconomic status, according to
the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).
Asian & Pacific Islanders (A&PIs) specifically make up one of
the fastest growing ethnic communities in the United States, yet they have the
lowest rates of utilization of mental health services among ethnic populations,
which may be due to the substantial stigma that exists (since many individuals
and families remain in denial or silence about their situation) as well as
cultural & linguistic isolation of the community, family, and individual. A&PI girls have the highest rate of
depressive symptoms of any racial/ethnic or gender groups, according to a study
released by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI, February 2011). A&PI women ages 15-24 have also been
shown to have a higher rate of suicide than Caucasians, African Americans and
Latinos in that age group (Center for Disease Control and Prevention/National
Center for Health Statistics). According
to another study, A&PI college students report higher levels of depressive
symptoms than white students (NAMI 2011).
These disparities indicate the critical need to raise awareness &
talk about mental health, de-stigmatize seeking help, and increase access to
& support culturally competent services for the Asian American &
Pacific Islander community.
In the honoring of Asian
Pacific American Mental Health Day in 2012, RAMS is pleased to be collaborating
with the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
(NAAPIMHA), and its partner interTrend Communications, in their national Friends
DO Make a Difference campaign. This
creative and collaborative outreach effort will provide and distribute messages
that focus on the importance and power of being a friend for someone facing
mental health challenges. This project grew out of the successful What A Difference A Friend Makes
campaign, created by the US Department of Health and Human Service’s Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). With the support and encouragement of SAMHSA,
this project has tailored the message, art work and approach of the SAMHSA
campaign to make it relevant to Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander
(AANHPI) students. RAMS will focus on
outreach to the youth population and help to pilot this project among high
school students in San Francisco.
Please join us at a special event on this day.
WHEN:
Thursday, May 10th from 9:30am to 10:30am
WHAT: Join
public officials, school district representatives, Bay Area local &
national leaders, community advocates, stakeholder organizations/institutions, educators,
and youth who will gather to recognize Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day
and learn about the Friends DO Make a Difference campaign
HOSTS:
Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc.
National Asian American Pacific Islander
Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA),
a non-profit organization with the mission to promote the mental health and
well being of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders
George Washington High School, a
four-year comprehensive San Francisco public high school dedicated to the
philosophy that every student entering its halls has the right to an education
to maximize his/her potential
Click HERE to view & download the press release.
Email info@ramsinc.org for more information.
The establishment of Asian
Pacific American Mental Health Day was an effort spearheaded by RAMS along with
California State Senator Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D. and San Francisco Board of
Supervisor (District 1) Eric Mar. It was
overwhelmingly supported by many major associations and community
coalitions. Since May is already
established nationally as the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and as Mental Health Awareness Month,
institution of this day in the month of May more closely aligns both awareness
efforts.
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