CAPAC Members Commemorate AANHPI Mental Health Day
Chair Chu and CAPAC Members to formally introduce congressional resolution in House & Senate marking the day
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, May 10, marks Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health Day, which falls during both AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month. AANHPI Mental Health Day promotes awareness of mental health issues that are specific to the AANHPI community.
To officially recognize today as National AANHPI Mental Health Day, CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28), CAPAC Freshman Representative Jill Tokuda (HI-02), and CAPAC Executive Members Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-07) and Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) will introduce a congressional resolution, along with its Senate companion, led by Senator Mazie Hirono (HI). Forty-seven community organizations from across the country have come together to endorse this legislation at the federal level.
May 10 has been recognized as AANHPI Mental Health Day since 2010, when it was first proclaimed in the State of California. In the United States, AANHPIs have among the lowest rates of utilization of mental health services, and 63.7 percent of the estimated 2,600,000 AANHPIs who meet criteria for a mental health problem do not receive treatment. In recent years, suicide has been the leading cause of death for AANHPI youth ages 10 through 24 in the United States, and AANHPI youth are the only racial or ethnic group in this age category with this first leading cause of death.
CAPAC Members released the following statements:
CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28):
“As both the only psychologist currently serving in Congress and Chair of CAPAC, I know that recognizing AANHPI Mental Health Day nationally is a significant step in destigmatizing mental health care in our communities. This day comes during AANHPI Heritage Month—a time to celebrate the vast contributions of AANHPIs as well as highlight the unique priorities of each of our communities. For example, AANHPIs, who are over one-third limited English proficient, often face difficulties accessing culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health treatment and cultural stigmas regarding obtaining care. The result is that AANHPIs have the lowest rates of mental health service utilization of any racial or ethnic group, with often heartbreaking results. That is why it is so vital for us to reduce the stigma and increase access to mental health treatment for our communities and why I am so proud to join my CAPAC colleagues Reps. Matsui, Strickland, Tokuda and Sen. Hirono in reintroducing our bicameral resolution recognizing AANHPI Mental Health Day! It’s also why every Congress I reintroduce the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act to curb mental health stigma for AANHPIs.
“I also remain grateful to President Biden for continuing to implement a national strategy for addressing mental health care access that focuses on growing the mental health workforce with cultural competency in mind, investing in school-based mental health services, and more. I look forward to continuing CAPAC’s work with our partners in advocacy, Congress, and the Biden-Harris administration to ensure that mental health care, and all health care, incorporates the needs of AANHPI communities.”
CAPAC First Vice-Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06):
“I am proud to recognize Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health Day. We have come so far in raising public awareness about mental health, but there is still more to be done to support our AANHPI communities. I represent a highly diverse constituency in Queens, New York, where approximately 40 percent of the population is of Asian descent and more than half is foreign-born. I understand the importance of mental health care that is accessible to those with limited English proficiency. Along with my colleagues, I reintroduced the bipartisan Mental Health Workforce and Language Access Act last year, which would create federally funded programs to support mental health professionals who are fluent in languages other than English. I am committed to making mental health care more accessible for all Americans.”
CAPAC Second Vice-Chair Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39):
“Deep rooted stigma surrounding mental health in the AANHPI community must be dismantled. I am proud to honor AANHPI Mental Health Day by recommitting to eliminating barriers to mental healthcare. From lack of insurance to the need for language services, AANHPI people face unique challenges in accessing care. I remain committed to working alongside my CAPAC colleagues to addressing these issues in Congress.”
CAPAC Whip Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36):
“This Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Mental Health Day, we recognize the mental health challenges impacting our communities and vow to continue the fight for equal access to mental health care for all. It’s important that we challenge the stigma around mental health and eliminate the obstacles that prevent members of the AANHPI community from seeking and attaining the health care they need. Addressing issues such as language barriers, lack of awareness of resources, health insurance coverage, and culture-specific obstacles to mental health support will help us close gaps in care for the AANHPI community. This AANHPI Mental Health Day, I recommit to working alongside my CAPAC colleagues to do so.”
Sen. Mazie Hirono (HI):
“Suicide is the leading cause of death for AANHPI youth and in Hawaii, the rate of suicide for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders is nearly two times the national average. These are tragic statistics, representing far too many lives lost too soon. As we mark AANHPI Heritage Month and AANHPI Mental Health Day, we reaffirm our commitment to improving access to mental health resources for AANHPI individuals and combatting stigmatizing narratives that prevent too many in our communities from utilizing those resources. I’m proud to introduce this resolution, which recognizes the importance of raising awareness around mental health care, and encourages health agencies to adopt policies to improve utilization of mental health services.”
Rep. Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06):
“As we recognize AANHPI Mental Health Day, it is crucial that we remember to promote awareness of the distinct challenges and stigmas impacting our community. Drawing from my experience as a physician, I've seen firsthand the importance of delivering and having access to culturally competent care. Together, we can foster a supportive and empowering environment for the AANHPI community to address these inequities and ensure access to high-quality mental health care.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07):
“On AANHPI Mental Health Day, we must recognize the historic barriers to accessing mental health care that our community has faced. Whether it comes from stigma, language access, difficulty finding a provider, or cost, absolutely no one should have trouble getting necessary mental health care. Following a pandemic in which we tragically saw a dramatic rise in hate crimes toward the Asian American community, it’s more important than ever that we break down these barriers and destigmatize mental health care. Mental health care is health care, and I’ll keep working to ensure that everyone, including members of the AANHPI community, have access to that care wherever and whenever they need it.”
Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17):
“Now more than ever, we need to invest in mental health resources and culturally competent care for AANHPI communities. Today, as we mark AANHPI Heritage Month, I stand with my CAPAC colleagues as we work to strength mental health services and tackle the stigma surrounding mental health treatment.”
Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-03):
“Disparities in healthcare access, including mental healthcare, hit diverse communities across our country hardest. On AANHPI Mental Health Day and during Mental Health Awareness Month, we must look toward finding new and innovative ways to expand affordable care options, reduce stigma, and embolden more people to seek out mental health treatment when they need it. We must keep working until mental healthcare is an encouraged, quality, affordable, and accessible care option for all Americans.”
Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-07):
“Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic and the terrible rise of anti-AANHPI hate have exacerbated the mental and emotional health of so many Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in Sacramento and across the country. That is why I am proud to reintroduce the resolution with Congresswomen Chu, Strickland, and Tokuda and Senator Hirono to recognize May 10 as National AANHPI Mental Health Day and to ensure that all AANHPI people have access to the resources and mental health infrastructure necessary for their recovery and healing."
Rep. Marilyn Strickland (WA-10):
“On National Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day, we recognize the unique challenges and trauma that members of our community face. As of 2023, 15% of the AANHPI community face mental health issues, and this number only continues to increase among the youth. We must continue fighting against the stigma surrounding mental health care, encourage people to ask for help, invest in resources, and support one another.”
Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13):
“On Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental Health Day, we recognize the unique challenges that members of the AANHPI community face in order to receive the mental health treatment they need.
“Mental health is an issue that has touched my life and the lives of so many others, no matter their background. On this day and every day, let's commit to breaking the stigma around mental health, building supportive spaces for AANHPI mental health treatment, and ensure that high-quality, affordable mental health care is accessible to everyone.”
Rep. Barbara Lee (CA-12):
“Mental health continues to be one of the many pressing issues impacting the AANHPI community. Stigma, discrimination, lack of insurance coverage, and language barriers have all prevented the AANHPI community from being able to access quality mental health care. Today, on AANHPI Mental Health Day, we recommit to implementing policies that address these barriers. These policies must include cultural competency and dismantle racism in our healthcare system, including mental health services. Only then can the AANHPI communities and families have the necessary mental health support to heal.”
Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA-38):
“This AANHPI Mental Health Day, I’m raising awareness about the mental health challenges faced by the AANHPI community. Members of the AANHPI community are less likely to receive mental health treatment due to language barriers, the stigma concerning mental health treatment, and insufficient health insurance coverage. I will always work with my CAPAC colleagues to break down barriers and make health care more accessible for all so that no one has to suffer in silence.”