A survey released in October by the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) found that 77 percent of Asian Americans with mood disorders reported struggling to talk about their condition compared to 69 percent of white people.

For many Asian Americans the struggle with mental health has increased along with the 149% increase of hate incidents since the pandemic began. Anti-Asian xenophobia in the U.S dates all the way back to the 19th century. To this very day Asian Americans suffer from harassment rooted in our racist history. 

Join us as we discuss anti-Asian biases, racism, and it's impact on mental health, so we can combat the stigma against seeking out care for your mental health-- which prevents many communities of color from getting the help they need and most importantly deserve. And, we'll be celebrating local people and organizations that have been uplifting our Communities of Color with mental health care services.

Panelists include:
Laarni Ayuma, Ayuma Healing Arts
Briana Liu, YWCA 
Mohit Mehta, doctoral candidate in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin; board member at AACHI
Zahara Shakurjamal, AFFSA
Co-Moderators: Jaelin Su, rising Junior at LASA; Faylyn Wang, rising Junior at Westlake HS

Invite your Aunties, neighbors, co-workers, and classmates to come listen, unlearn, and relearn from our panelists as we build commUNITY. Q&A with interactive community engagement activities will be held at the end of the discussion. We will have light snacks from NG Cafe. Raffling "My Grandmother's Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies" and "Permission to Come Home." FREE with RSVP.

**And, Ascension Seton will be on-site administering free Pfzier vaccinations/boosters for 5+ year old**