May 10 - APA Mental Health Day Co-Hosted by RAMS & APIMHC

In honor of May 10 - Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day and May being Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, RAMS proudly partnered with its Asian Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative (APIMHC) to host a community celebration at the SF County Fair Building. APIMHC is a collaborative partnership between RAMS and six community-based organizations: Samoan Community Development Center, Filipino-American Development Foundation/Bayanihan Community Center, Vietnamese Youth Development Center, Cambodian Community Development, Inc., Lao Seri Association, and Vietnamese Family Services Center. The purpose of this event was to celebrate mental wellness and increase awareness of balanced mental and physical health in the context of cultures. The event was made possible with great thanks by Kaiser Permanente and the San Francisco Federal Credit Union.

This year’s event was held on Wednesday, May 10th from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at the San Francisco County Fair Building, located at 1199 9th Ave, SF, CA. The celebration featured cultural wellness activities and healing practices, along with demonstrations, including Cambodian Dance, Shaio Lin Style Kung Fu, Hot Siva (Samoan), Drumming Circle, and Vietnamese Hat Dancing. Information & resources and food of the different cultural communities were also provided.

About Mental Health Conditions:

• About one in five Americans in a given year are impacted by mental health conditions regardless of gender, age, race, religion and socioeconomic status. (NIMH)
• Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders appear to have extremely low utilization of mental health services relative to other U.S. populations. (NAMI) This may be due to the substantial stigma that exists and cultural & linguistic isolation of the community, family and individual.
• The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States. Without treatment the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering: unnecessary disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, inappropriate incarceration, and suicide. (NAMI)
• Treatments for mental health conditions today are highly effective and individuals who receive treatment have significant reduction of symptoms and improved quality of life.

Many factors contribute to mental health concerns such as biological, life experiences (e.g. trauma, immigration, housing instability), and family history of mental health conditions. When someone starts to experience the early warning signs of mental illness, knowing the risks factors and symptoms will help. Often times, family and friends are the first to support a person through these early stages. Asking for help is never a sign of weakness and wellness & recovery is always possible.

 

 

Link to our Facebook Post here

 



Annual Richmond Community Health Festival on Saturday, May 6th

RAMS is proud to have co-sponsored our annual Richmond Community Health Festival on May 6th, along with Assemblymember Phil Ting, Supervisor Sandra Lee Fewer, Kaiser Permanente, Self-Help For The Elderly, and Compassionate Community Care.

The Health Festival featured free clinical health services including blood pressure testing, Hep B screening, and other medical tests & services, as well as free Tai Chi and Fall Prevention Demonstrations. The fair also featured FREE giveaways, food, health education offered by more than 40 community health organizations, children’s activities and family fun, including traditional Russian singing and dance performances.

 

 

 

 

 

Lion Dance Kick-off Performance Video Clip 

2016 Richmond Community Health Festival on Saturday, May 7th

RAMS is proud to be a co-sponsor along with San Francisco District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar, California District 19 Assembly member Phil Ting, Kaiser Permanente, Compassionate Community Care, and Self-Help for the Elderly for the Richmond Community Health Festival.

The purpose of this free health festival is to encourage a healthy lifestyle and provide access to resources that help meet the health needs of our diverse community.

The Health Festival will feature FREE health screenings and medication review along with FREE giveaways, cooking demonstrations, health education offered by about 40 community health organizations, children’s activities and family fun.

When: Saturday, May 7, 2016, 10 am - 2 pm

Where: Richmond Recreation Center, 251 18th Avenue (at Clement), San Francisco

Mental Health First Aid in Tagalog and English

RAMS' Asian & Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative is pleased to announce that its community collaborator, San Francisco Filipino Mental Health Initiative, will be offering a Mental Health First Aid course in Tagalog and English. When a mental health crisis happens, people are often wondering what to do and generally unable to detect early signs of mental health issues. Mental Health First Aid training addresses these questions and offers participants with the knowledge & skills to recognize warning signs, how to assess a mental health crisis, and how to act during the crisis situation. During the month of May, SF Filipino Mental Health Initiative is offering FREE Mental Health First Aid courses, sponsored by RAMS and funded by Mental Health Services Act through Community Behavioral Health Services-San Francisco Department of Public Health. The course will train seniors, caregivers, and community members.

For more information, and if you are interested in this training, please contact Joyce Vives-Diloy, MSW at: sfofmhi@gmail.com

According to the National Council on Behavioral Health:

WHAT IS MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?
Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health concerns, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. The course uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis; select interventions and provide initial help; and connect persons to professional, peer and social supports as well as self-help resources. Mental Health First Aid allows for early detection and intervention by teaching participants about the signs and symptoms of specific illnesses like anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, and addictions. The program offers concrete tools and answers key questions like “What can I do?” and “Where can someone find help?” Participants are introduced to local mental health resources, national organizations, support groups, and online tools for mental health and addictions treatment and support.

WHY MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID?
One in five Americans has a mental illness and many are reluctant to seek help or might not know where to turn for care. The symptoms of mental illness can be difficult to detect — even when friends and family of someone who appears to be developing a mental illness can tell that something is amiss, they may not know how to intervene or direct the person to proper treatment – which means that all too often, those in need of mental health services do not get them until it is too late. As a society, we largely remain ignorant about the signs and symptoms of mental illnesses, and we ignore our role as responsible community members to help people experiencing these illnesses.

To view the flyers below, right-click and select any option to "Open"

 

 

Inaugural Filipino Mental Health Symposium

The Filipino Mental Health Initiative of San Francisco and San Mateo County, and student organizations and staff at San Francisco University, together, are pleased to present the Inaugural Filipino Mental Health Symposium, “Kwentuhan: Sharing Our Stories”, on Friday April 11, in Jack Adams Hall at San Francisco State University.

Students, educators, community members, and health providers interested in promoting mental wellness within the Filipino and Filipino American community will find the symposium useful. Stories, discussions, and performances have been carefully selected to provide opportunities for the larger community to learn more about issues related to Filipino American children, families, and adults.

Our theme “Kwentuhan: Sharing Our Stories” emphasizes the historical importance of story telling within Filipino culture and its potential for expanding our awareness around mental wellness. Through sharing our stories and the resources provided at the symposium, we hope to empower, dispel stigmas around mental health, and provide a place for others to meet people who are serving the Filipino and Filipino American communities.

We hope you and your community members will join us, as we come together for this powerful event.
To attend, register by clicking HERE or visiting the registration site http://tiny.cc/fmhs
Lunch and refreshments will be provided. This is a FREE event!

To view the flyer, right-click and select any option to "Open"

 

 SPECIAL THANKS TO: CHI RHO OMICRON, ACTIVE MINDS, COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES CENTER-SFSU, THE BIG 6, AND CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE SPEIER.

If you have any questions please contact Judith at judith@bayanihancc.org.

This activity is sponsored by RAMS Asian & Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative in partnership with the Filipino Mental Health Initiative - SF. Funded by Mental Health Services Act, San Francisco Department of Public Health - Community Behavioral Health Services.

API Mental Health Collaborative is abuzz with events

Today's post is written by RAMS Asian & Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative Coordinator Natalie Ah Soon, MPH, providing information and updates about the APIMHC program's mental health promotion events and activities. 
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APIMHC’s Community Collaborators springs into the season with a beehive of community mental health promotion events and activities:

On April 4, 2014, Samoan Wellness Initiative will start a Fale Lalaga (Weaving House) of wellness through the O Lo’u Leo (My Voice) Series. In conjunction with Journey to Empowerment, four digital stories produced by Pacific Islanders about issues that impact their mental health will be featured individually, followed by a guided discussion and dialogue co-facilitated by experienced facilitators and community members/providers. Mental health providers will be on-site to provide support.  Activities will be geared towards Pacific Islanders, and particularly the Samoan community.
Contact: Nani Wilson – naniwilson@hotmail.com

On April 6, 2014, Southeast Asian Mental Health Initiative will host a cultural event to celebrate the Cambodian and Laotian New Year. Outreach, engagement, and education activities include monk blessings, BACI, cultural performances, sharing of traditional food and practices of wellness, sharing of resources (among others).  Cambodians, Laotians, providers, and community members are invited to attend.
Contact: Chanthol Oung - chanthol.ccdi@gmail.com

On April 11, 2014,  the Filipino Mental Health Initiative-SF, a community collaborator of RAMS’ Asian and Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative Project, will offer the Inaugural Filipino Mental Health Symposium titled Engaging and Educating through KWENTUHAN: Sharing Our Stories. Students, educators, community members, and health providers interested in promoting mental wellness within the Filipino and Filipino American community will find the symposium useful. A line-up of carefully selected mental health-related stories, discussions, and performances about Filipino Americans will provide opportunities for the larger community to learn more about issues that impact Filipino-American children, families, and adults. Through KWENTUHAN: Sharing Our Stories and the resources provided at the symposium, it is hoped that awareness of mental wellness will expand through empowerment with information sharing and exchange, dispelling the stigma of mental health, and providing a place for community members and providers to meet individuals that serve the Filipino-American community in the San Francisco Bay Area.  The event will be held on Friday, April 11, 2014, 9am-3pm in the Jack Adams Hall at San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway, San Francisco, CA 94132.
Registration is REQUIRED for this FREE event! Register at: http://tiny.cc/fmhs by Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Contacts: Judith or Joyce at joyce@bayanihancc.org OR 415-348-8042

Introducing the Asian & Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative

RAMS gallops into the Year of the Horse with a brand NEW project: Asian & Pacific Islander Mental Health Collaborative!

The project is RAMS’ inaugural venture into community health promotion programs. Through RAMS’ collaborative partnership with the Samoan Community Development Center, Filipino-American Development Foundation/Bayanihan Community Center, and Vietnamese Youth Development Center, our goal is to reduce the stigma of mental health among Samoans, Filipinos, and Southeast Asians (Cambodian, Laotian, & Vietnamese) in San Francisco by delivering culturally and linguistically competent mental health prevention and early intervention activities across the lifespan in community settings.

Check out our website page HERE for more details.

Image credit: artwork by Ryan Gucayane, designed for CRDP, API-SPW

Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day 2013

 May 10

First established in 2010 by the State of California and the City & County of San Francisco, Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day recognizes the importance of raising awareness about mental health and promoting mental wellness in the Asian Pacific American community. 

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. These disparities indicate the critical need to raise awareness & talk about mental health, de-stigmatize seeking help, and increase access to & support culturally competent/relevant services for the Asian American & Pacific Islander community.

For more information on Asian American and Pacific Islander mental health facts, check out the NAMI Multicultural Action Center HERE.

Resolution presented by Senator Leland Yee to the CA State Senate in April 2010,
establishing Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day on May 10 statewide

"This measure would recognize May 10, 2010,

and each May 10 thereafter, as
Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day,

and acknowledge the importance of
raising awareness about mental health
in the Asian Pacific American community."


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. 

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee at a RAMS event in 2011
honoring Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day

San Francisco District 1 Supervisor Eric Mar at a RAMS event in 2011
honoring Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day

ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS IN MAY 2013

RAMS is excited to announce some of the following events recognizing Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day!

May 10, 10:00am-12:00pm at Chinatown Public Health Center, 1490 Mason Street, San Francisco: A panel presentation & gathering of public officials, healthcare professionals, Bay Area local & national leaders, community advocates, stakeholder institutions/ organizations, and educators & researcherson to discuss issues of detecting and addressing mental health concerns in primary care & non-mental health care settings. Details HERE.

May 10, 8:30am - 4:30pm at St. Mary's Event Center, 1111 Gough Street, San Francisco: A training on cultural and clinical consideration in working with Filipino-Americans with mental health issues, presented by Dr. Jei Africa.  View the flyer by clicking on the image at right to enlarge (right-click and select any options to "Open").

The CAAEN Leadership Group is launching their "it's ok" campaign to bring attention to and promote awareness of mental health issues in the Asian community. Details HERE.

The city of Austin, Texas, has followed San Francisco's lead and proclaimed May 10, 2013 as Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day in Austin.  Special events have been scheduled, including this training presented by the Asian Behavioral Health Network of Austin.

Also on May 10, the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and The White House Office of Public Engagement are hosting an AAPI Briefing on Suicide Prevention and Mental Health.  [UPDATE: Click HERE for the article "Raising Awareness about Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in the AAPI Community" by Larke N. Huang)

Sharing Stories About The Asian Pacific American Experience & Mental Health

Ramey Ko shared a personal & inspiring story related Asian American Mental Health, in honor of Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day and the Friends Do Make A Difference campaign to raise awareness & destigmatize mental health in high school students in 2012. Mr. Ko is currently a Commission Member of the White House AAPI Initiative, and is an Associate Judge of the City of Austin Municipal Court.

  



Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day Over The Years

A sampling of some of the events held in previous years:

In 2012, RAMS collaborated with 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 provided and distributed messages via TV, online social media, and promotional events at high schools that focus on the importance and power of being a friend for someone facing mental health challenges.

On May 9, 2012, local public radio station KALW 91.7 FM aired a three-part series on Asian American mental health issues during the Crosscurrents news show.  RAMS is honored to have been asked to contribute and assist in the making of this noteworthy program. The entire series was heard on air at KALW 91.7FM, but is also available online at www.kalw.org.

On May 10, 2012, Hyphen Magazine wrote an article in honor of Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day: AAMM (the column's author) revisits their roots and considers the impact of a mantra like "It Gets Better" in the article titled "Deciding Not To Bail".

On May 10, 2011, an all-day training event "Asian Pacific American Mental Health: Knowing Our Roots and Growing Beyond" was held in San Francisco, featuring  an esteemed panel of presenters that are recognized leaders, trailblazers, and legends in the field of mental health and working with Asian Pacific Americans.

On May 9, 2011, the College of San Mateo presented an Asian Pacific American Mental Health Awareness Panel, featuring a panel presentation from RAMS staff about the importance of mental health and culturally-competent services in the A/PI community, working in the mental health profession, as well as challenges and issues specific to the A/PI communities.

RAMS is looking forward to many more years of raising awareness about Asian Pacific American Mental Health!



Ninth Annual Richmond Community Health Festival on Saturday, May 4th

RAMS is proud to be a co-sponsor along with Senator Leland Yee, Supervisor Eric Mar, Kaiser Permanente, Self-Help For The Elderly, and Compassionate Community Care for the 9th Annual Richmond Community Health Festival.

View the flyer by clicking on the image below to enlarge (right-click and select any options to "Open").

The Health Festival will feature FREE clinical health services including bone density testing, blood pressure testing, Hep B screening, and other medical tests& services, as well as FREE bicycle repair by Sprocket Mobile Bike Repair. The fair will also feature FREE giveaways, food, health education offered by more than 40 community health organizations, children’s activities and family fun.

When: Saturday, May 4, 2012, 10am-2pm

Where: Richmond Recreation Center, 251 18th Avenue, San Francisco (between California and Clement)

UPDATE: Here's a picture from the event!  Thank you to Flora, Grace, Kristina, and Paul for volunteering!

Fu Yau Project Summer 2012 Newsletter

Check out the latest Fu Yau Times, a semi-annual newsletter with great articles and tips on parenting and resources for the community. Check it out by clicking HERE.

About the Fu Yau Project:
The Fu Yau Project is one of the many Child, Youth & Family Services offered at RAMS. It is a collaboration of RAMS and Chinatown Child Development Center (CCDC) and is located at 720 Sacramento Street, in San Francisco's Chinatown district. This innovative program provides prevention and early intervention mental health services to the childcare community that cares for children, ages 0-5 years old. Services includes the following: On-Site Program and Child Observation; Clinical Consultation with childcare staff and families; On-Site Intervention with individual and groups of children; Parenting Classes and Support Groups; and In-Service Training for the childcare staff relating to child development and mental health related issues. The Fu Yau Project staff includes child psychiatrists, licensed and license-tracked clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists, all of whom reflect the unique language skills and cultural competence needed to provide services for the children, families, and teaching staff of the childcare programs.

Through the Fu Yau Project, RAMS currently provides services at more than 43 childcare centers, 8 family childcare providers, 5 family resource centers, and one after school site, which are located in over nine San Francisco neighborhoods.

Join us at NAMIWalks

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization working at the national, state, & local levels to raise awareness and provide essential and free education, advocacy and support group programs. Every year, the 9 local NAMI affiliates in the Bay Area work together to create the Annual NAMIWalk SF Bay Area to raise awareness for mental illness and raise funds to underwrite and support much-needed free local programs.

RAMS is pleased to participate in the Annual NAMIWalk SF Bay Area on Saturday June 2, 2012 to show support and help raise awareness around mental health issues. Please see: www.nami.org/walk for more information. Contact RAMS Walk Team Captain, Anne Lowe, if you are interested in joining us on this walk!

Eighth Annual Richmond Community Health Festival on Saturday, May 12th

RAMS is proud to be a co-sponsor along with Senator Leland Yee, Supervisor Eric Mar, Kaiser Permanente, Self-Help For The Elderly, and Compassionate Community Care for the 8th Annual Richmond Community Health Festival.

View the flyer by clicking on the image below to enlarge (right-click and select any options to "Open").

The Health Festival will feature FREE clinical health services including blood pressure tests, body mass index tests, body fat tests, allergy advice, hearing tests, eyeglass cleaning, dental screening, bone density tests, Hep B screening and medical reviews. The fair will also feature FREE giveaways, food, health education offered by more than 40 community health organizations, children’s activities and family fun.

When: Saturday, May 12, 2012, 10am-2pm

Where: Richmond Recreation Center, 251 18th Avenue, San Francisco (between California and Clement)

National Problem Gambling Awareness Week

RAMS is actively participating in National Problem Gambling Awareness Week, which is being held from March 4-10 this year.

As part of our ongoing outreach and awareness-raising efforts, Dr. Eddie Chiu, Director of RAMS Asian Family Institute, together with Kent Woo, Executive Director of NICOS Chinese Health Coalition, participated in a press conference held by NICOS at Donaldina Cameron House regarding Problem Gambling in the Chinese Community.

 

The press conference revealed new data which indicates a 10% increase in the number of Chinese seeking assistance in gambling-related problems, which signifies that the Chinese community has increased awareness of such problems, although overall usage is still relatively low compared to other population groups.  Issues such as youth gambling as well as success rates in gambling addiction were also discussed.

For more information and to view video coverage of the press conference, visit the KTSF Channel 26 website HERE.

RAMS collaborates with NICOS in offering problem gambling services, which provides assessment, counseling, support groups, outreach, and educational services for problem gamblers and their family members in the Asian American communities. The project also operates the Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-888-968-7888 and provides counseling, information and referral in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin languages/dialects.

Integrated Care for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Communities: A Blueprint for Action

RAMS is excited to be able to share with our community the official copy of the Integrated Care for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Communities: A Blueprint for Action: Consensus Statement and Recommendations.  This document truly represents a group effort, which RAMS was delighted to be a part of, and the Blueprint reflects years of dedication by so many individuals & organizations who have given to improving the quality of care for our communities.  The document was published, in January 2012, by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, and authored by DJ Ida, Ph.D., Janet SooHoo, MSW, and Teresa Chapa, Ph.D., MPA.  It was an honor for RAMS to be invited to participate in this process.  In addition, several staff from RAMS assisted & volunteered at the expert consensus meeting & summit that was held in San Francisco, hosted by National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association.  Please feel free to distribute this document so we can all build on the recommendations, educate stakeholders/providers/decision makers, and take action!

Click HERE to read the document online.

Fu Yau Project Winter Newsletter

Check out the latest Fu Yau Times, a semi-annual newsletter with great articles and tips on parenting and resources for the community. Check it out by clicking HERE.

About the Fu Yau Project:

The Fu Yau Project is one of the many Child, Youth & Family Services offered at RAMS. It is a collaboration of RAMS and Chinatown Child Development Center (CCDC) and is located at 720 Sacramento Street, in San Francisco's Chinatown district. This innovative program provides prevention and early intervention mental health services to the childcare community that cares for children, ages 0-5 years old. Services includes the following: On-Site Program and Child Observation; Clinical Consultation with childcare staff and families; On-Site Intervention with individual and groups of children; Parenting Classes and Support Groups; and In-Service Training for the childcare staff relating to child development and mental health related issues. The Fu Yau Project staff includes child psychiatrists, licensed and license-tracked clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists, all of whom reflect the unique language skills and cultural competence needed to provide services for the children, families, and teaching staff of the childcare programs.

Through the Fu Yau Project, RAMS currently provides services at more than 43 childcare centers, eight family childcare providers, five family resource centers, and one after school site, which are located in over nine San Francisco neighborhoods.

U.S. Office of Minority Health invites RAMS CEO to first-ever Roundtable Discussion

Kavoos G. Bassiri, RAMS President & CEO, was invited by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH) to participate in OMH’s first-ever roundtable discussion on addressing health and behavioral health needs through integrated care for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders titled, Integrated Care for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities: A Blueprint for Action.

OMH and its partner, the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA), hosted a two-day meeting (8/15-8/16, 2011) with the goal to bring together a diverse group of health and behavioral health professional and key stakeholders to examine the role of integrated care as a formidable method of care delivery for AANHPI populations, and to formulate recommendations and next steps.  To achieve this goal, OMH and NAAPHIMA, listened to leaders in the field, learned about new and emerging practices, and together formulated recommendations and consensus statements that would be utilized to lay the groundwork for how to approach integrated care for AANHPI populations in the U.S.

Among the participants also included Dr. Alvin Alvarez and Dr. Jean Lau Chin, who serve on the RAMS Board of Directors and the Board's Advisory Council, respectively.  They were invited separately, on their own, for their community involvement and expertise.

RAMS is thankful to OMH and NAAPIMHA to have had the opportunity to be part of this process!

It's time for Bridge - Summer Bridge!

Despite the unseasonal weather...it’s Summer Bridge time again!

RAMS-Summer Bridge is back for another summer of giving youth an opportunity to dip their toes into the vast waters of psychology and explore the varied career options in the field of mental health.  For those of you unfamiliar with this relatively new program, it is an eight-week summer mentoring program for current and recently graduated San Francisco public high school students age 16-20 who are interested in psychology and want to explore career opportunities in the field.  This is the second summer that RAMS is offering the program and we are off to a good start!  We received over 50 applications for the 20-30 slots we had, and we currently have 19 participants who are well on their way to completing the program.  

The program participants meet 12 hours a week at our partner location, Horizons Unlimited in the Mission.  They are hearing presentations by guest speakers on topics ranging from identity, self-expression, mental health and stigma, LGBTQIQ issues among adolescents and their families, body image and self-esteem, and personal stories from professionals in the field of mental health.  The participants have also gone on various field trips:  a RAMS staff training on racism and mental health, a visit to SFDPH/CBHS, a tour of San Francisco State University and meetings with undergraduate and graduate faculty members, and an introduction to our very own RAMS Child, Youth and Families Outpatient Clinic to learn about psychotherapy and the youth-oriented services provided by the agency.  With so much learning taking place in such a short period of time, we are also providing space for participants to reflect on what they’re experiencing and opportunities to get to know themselves and each other in the process.  This is done through numerous ice breaker activities, experiential activities, and small group discussions.

It’s hard to believe that we are already midway through our program.  There is still a lot more to learn and experiences to be had...oh, and hopefully a lot of fun along the way too!  Stay tuned for another blog entry at the end of the program....

 

Ropes Course...Getting to Know (and Trust) Each Other!

It comes Full Circle!

Fu Yau Project Summer Newsletter

Check out the latest Fu Yau Times, a semi-annual newsletter with great articles and tips on parenting and resources for the community. Check it out by clicking HERE.

About the Fu Yau Project:
The Fu Yau Project is one of the many Child, Youth & Family Services offered at RAMS. It is a collaboration of RAMS and Chinatown Child Development Center (CCDC) and is located at 720 Sacramento Street, in San Francisco's Chinatown district. This innovative program provides prevention and early intervention mental health services to the childcare community that cares for children, ages 0-5 years old. Services includes the following: On-Site Program and Child Observation; Clinical Consultation with childcare staff and families; On-Site Intervention with individual and groups of children; Parenting Classes and Support Groups; and In-Service Training for the childcare staff relating to child development and mental health related issues. The Fu Yau Project staff includes child psychiatrists, licensed and license-tracked clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, and marriage and family therapists, all of whom reflect the unique language skills and cultural competence needed to provide services for the children, families, and teaching staff of the childcare programs.

Through the Fu Yau Project, RAMS currently provides services at more than 44 childcare centers, 12 family childcare providers, four family resource centers, and one after school site, which are located in over nine San Francisco neighborhoods.

A Week of Mental Health Awareness

There was a whirlwind of activity at RAMS last week in celebration of Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day on May 10, as well as the national Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month which both occur in May.  A brief recap:

Monday, May 9:  The College of San Mateo presented an Asian Pacific American Mental Health Awareness Panel, featuring a panel presentation from RAMS staff about the importance of mental health and culturally-competent services in the A/PI community, working in the mental health profession, as well as challenges and issues specific to the A/PI communities.

Presenting at the College of San Mateo:
(L to R) Kavoos Bassiri, Dr. Stephanie Chen, Dr. Shyamsunda​r Kotagal, Can Nguyen

Tuesday, May 10:  On Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day, RAMS presented an all day training event titled "Asian Pacific American Mental Health: Knowing Our Roots and Growing Beyond".  This widely anticipated event was filled to capacity with over 200 registrants, and was a great success.  To kick-off the event, Mayor Edwin M. Lee addressed the audience on the importance of mental health and the Asian Pacific American community. Supervisor Eric Mar, who along with Senator Leland Yee was instrumental in establishing Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day, also addressed the audience in the early afternoon.
This all-day training featured an exciting panel of presenters that are recognized leaders, trailblazers, and legends in the field of mental health and working with Asian Pacific Americans:
• Alvin N. Alvarez, PhD, Professor, Dept. of Counseling, SF State University; Past President, Asian American Psychological Association
• Jean Lau Chin, PhD, ABPP, Professor, Adelphi University
• DJ Ida, PhD, Executive Director, National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association
• Stanley Sue, PhD, Professor of Psychology and Director, Center on Excellence in Diversity, Palo Alto University
 

San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee

San Francisco Supervisor Eric Mar

Dr. Alvin Alvarez



(L to R) Dr. DJ Ida, Kavoos Bassiri, Dr. Jean Lau Chin, and Dr. Stanley Sue

As an added bonus for this auspicious day, the San Francisco Giants flashed the message "Happy Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day - May 10" on the AT&T Park scoreboard during the 3rd inning of the SF Giants vs. Arizona Diamondbacks game.  It was a winning game for the Giants as well!

Thursday, May 12: Staff from the RAMS Wellness Centers Program were speakers at the 2011 California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists Annual Conference.  The title of the presentation is “Lessons Learned: Providing Creative Tools for Working in School-Based Services to Meet the Needs of Diverse Youth”.  RAMS Behavioral Health Counselors Ulash Thakore-Dunlap, MS, Shana Averbach, MS, Alissa Gunsberg, MA, Mia Gutfreund, MA, and Rebecca Peng, MS, as well as Program Director Kristin Chun, LMFT, presented on Thursday May 12, on behalf of RAMS.

Wellness Centers staff presenting at CAMFT: (L to R) Shana Averbach, Alissa Gunsberg, Kristin Chun, Mia Gutfreund, Rebecca Peng, and Ulash Thakore-Du​nlap

Saturday, May 14: RAMS was a co-sponsor along with Senator Leland Yee, Supervisor Eric Mar, Kaiser Permanente, Self-Help For The Elderly, San Francisco Recreation & Parks, and Compassionate Community Care for the 7th Annual 2011 Richmond District Community Health Festival. The Health Festival featured FREE clinical health services as well as giveaways, food, health education offered by more than 40 community health organizations, children’s activities and family fun.

RAMS at the Richmond District Health Festival:
(L to R) Christy Tam, Paul Lee, Kristina Bang, Mark Gavartin

CALL FOR ACTION - Honoring Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day on May 10

Richmond Area Multi-Services, Inc. (RAMS) is reaching out to the California community to honor and recognize “Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day” on May 10th. The call for action is for community groups, organizations, coalitions, and associations; health advocates or individuals; and public officials & entities, public health departments, and other affiliates to acknowledge this day and the importance of mental health in the Asian Pacific American community by organizing an activity, making an announcement, and/or simply spreading the word to raise awareness.

Starting 2010, and each year thereafter, the State of California and City & County of San Francisco declared May 10th as Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day. This effort was spearheaded by RAMS along with State Senator Leland Y. Yee, Ph.D. and SF Board of Supervisor Eric Mar. Establishment of this day was overwhelmingly supported by many major local, statewide, and national associations and community coalitions. "Since May is already established nationally as the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, instituting this day in May more closely aligns both awareness efforts," says Kavoos G. Bassiri, President & CEO of RAMS, Inc.

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). “Given the traditionally low rates of mental health utilization within this [Asian American] community, it is our belief that the creation of day to promote greater awareness of the mental health issues facing various Asian American and Pacific Islander communities is a critical and much-needed act of advocacy,” stated Dr. Gordon Nagayama Hall, President of the Asian American Psychological Association.

In honoring Asian Pacific American Mental Health Day in 2011, RAMS is holding an all day training event “Asian Pacific American Mental Health: Knowing Our Roots and Growing Beyond” in San Francisco. The event features an exciting panel of presenters: Dr. Alvin N. Alvarez, Dr. Jean Lau Chin, Dr. DJ Ida, and Dr. Stanley Sue, and facilitated by Kavoos G. Bassiri. Joining the moderated panel discussion is also Dr. Leland Yee, Psychologist and California State Senator. The presenters are recognized leaders, trailblazers, and legends in the field of mental health and working with Asian Pacific Americans. This training is funded by Mental Health Services Act and offered to the community through a collaboration of RAMS and Harm Reduction Therapy Center - Training Institutes.