Mental health is an important thing to take note of during COVID-19 because of the constant stress. As we move towards a new normal, and eventually past this, we hope that these mental health resources will help you maintain or better your mental health.

National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF)

NAPAWF*NYC builds power with members to advance human rights for AANHPI self-identified women living in New York. We believe our personal narratives inform our political activism, while also acknowledging that our political consciousness can sometimes be at odds with our upbringing and familial relationships. We have collected a list of mental health resources to help our community members work towards a future where they can show up as their full selves, not just within the NAPAWF*NYC community, but in all aspects of their lives.

Resources for Finding Culturally Competent / Sensitive Mental Health Practitioners 

My Choice For Hope
Each of us are shaped by unique life experiences as times change, so no one solution works for everyone.  My Choice for Hope offers a variety of support options to help connect people with solutions that fit their particular needs and preferences to inspire hope.

Culturally Responsive Behavioral Health Resource Hub
An excellent collection of culturally appropriate and multi-language mental health resources provided by Network of Care Massachusetts.
​
Psychology Today--Therapist Search
​​Psychology Today’s directory helps you find licensed therapists, psychiatrists, counselors, treatment centers, and support groups in your area. It has filters to narrow your search by the practitioner’s language capabilities, modality, and areas of focus. 

South Asian Mental Health Initiative and Network
SAMHIN’s Mental Health Provider Directory includes mental health practitioners in the South Asian community. You can search by location, specialty, language, gender, insurance, and more. 
*List of South Asian mental health agencies in the US here!

National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network
NQTTCN, a community of queer, gender non-conforming, and trans mental health practitioners of color, provides a directory of LGBTQ+-affirming therapists and healers across the US.  

RAD Remedy
RAD Remedy’s national health database connects LGBTQ+ individuals to a comprehensive range of mental health services including art therapy, couples therapy, life coaching, sex therapy, and more. 
​
Zencare
Another therapist directory. You can view videos of therapists, see availability, can find LGBTQ+-affirming and POC therapists.

e-Counseling

BetterHelp
BetterHelp is an online therapy platform that connects individuals to licensed psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, counselors. You can reach your therapist through instant messaging on the BetterHelp app, email, voice call, and video chat. 

Talkspace
Talkspace matches individuals with an e-therapist who they can reach through Unlimited Messaging Therapy. Therapists answer 1-2 times per day and you can schedule a video chat for additional assistance. Talkspace plans start at $65/week. ​

​Mental Health Hotlines

National Suicide Prevention Hotline 
Call: 1-800-273-TALK 
Hours of operation: 24/7
Language competencies: English, Spanish, Tele-interpreters for 150+ languages
Spanish language line: 1-888-628-9454

Asian LifeNet Hotline
Call: 1-877-990-8585
Hours of operation: 24/7
Language competencies: Cantonese, Mandarin, Japanese, Korean, Fujianese

I’m Alive
Online chat: https://www.imalive.org/
Hours of operation: 24/7
Language competencies: English

GLBT National Health Center 
​Call: 1-888-843-4564
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. EST, Saturday 12-5 p.m. EST
Language competencies: English 

Domestic Abuse Helplines

National Domestic Violence Hotline
Call: 1-800-799-7233
Text: 1-800-787-3224
Online chat: https://www.thehotline.org/ 
Hours of operation: 24/7
Language competencies: More than 200 languages 

Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence 
Call: 617-338-2355
Hours of operation: 24/7
Language competencies: Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin, and Toisanese), Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Nepali, Punjabi, Urdu, Bangla, and more

Sakhi for South Asian Women
Call: 1-212-868-6741
Hours of operation: Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST
Language competencies: Unknown

Podcasts

MannMukti 
“When the Weather Inside is Frightful”
MannMukti’s host, Anand Jayanti, and former VP of marketing, Faria Akram, talk about experiencing the holidays from a South Asian perspective, with all the associated baggage, expectations, and joy. 

Bad Brown Aunties
“Self care as Survival” 
Bad Brown Aunties hosts, Rage Kidvai and Thanu Yakupitiyage, and writer Fariha Róisín talk about navigating trauma and the sometimes messiness of aunties and the impact that they can have. 
Fariha’s poetry book, “How to Cure a Ghost,” is a collection of her thoughts as a young, queer, Muslim femme navigating the difficulties of her intersectionality. Visit https://www.fariharoisin.com/ to purchase “How to Cure a Ghost” or to read her essays on mental health and self care. ​

Asian American Writers’ Workshop Radio
“Dear Life”
Authors Yiyun Li and Porochista Khakpour discuss how depression, chronic illness, and the relationship between trauma and physical illness have transformed their existence not only as writers, but as people.

NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL HEALTH (NAMI)

Family Support Group

General Information (need more information?)

• Free group for adults with loved one(s) who have experienced or experiencing a mental health condition
  • 60-90 minute confidential sessions (frequency varies by location: weekly, every other week, monthly)
  • Understand and support yourself (get better coping skills, support in shared experiences, mental health isn't anyone's fault/ can be traumatic)
  • Maintain own well-being (be kind to yourself, humor and health)
  • Led by peers in a safe space
• Starts in October at various times

Register (all meetings are online)

Family to Family Education Program

General Information (need more information?)

• Free program for family members + caregivers of people with mental health (MH) conditions
  • Understand and support loved one (insight & information on specific diagnoses, communication skills, resources)
  • Maintain own well-being (impact on family, crisis management, stress management, support & validation)
  • Taught by NAMI-trained leaders who are family members of people with MH conditions
• Starts on Wednesday, June 24, 2020 from 6:30 – 9:00 PM, via Zoom (10 classes)

Register/ Contact: Mary Cockroft at novmam55@yahoo.com or 508-581-0874

Peer to Peer Classes

General Information

• Free educational program (8 classes) for adults with mental health conditions
• Understand and support yourself (develop confidence, better communication skills, stress management)
• Forward looking (set visions and goals, partner with health care providers, learn about mental health treatment options)
• Taught by NAMI-trained leaders with lived experiences

Register
Contact Judi Maguire at ​jmaguire@namimass.org or 617-580-8541 x 22

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Glass Ceiling in STEM | 50 Free Anti-Racism and Mental Health Resources​

Curated by Columbia University's Engineering Boot Camp: https://bootcamp.cvn.columbia.edu/blog/free-asian-anti-racism-and-mental-health-resources/​

HARVARD UNIVERSITY'S CENTER FOR WELLNESS AND HEALTH PROMOTION

Access virtual resources & online classes on their site: wellness.huhs.harvard.edu/virtual-resources

Additional resources

TEAM (Together Empowering Asian Minds) is a peer-led, national mental health awareness campaign aimed to address urgent and unique mental health challenges faced by AAPI women. Help transform how Asian women and their loved ones perceive mental health and receive mental health services!

http://www.teamasianminds.org/