Winter can be a challenging time for many, as it’s often associated with seasonal depression. Recognizing this, especially after losing two young Asian Americans to suicides in RTP area recently, UCA WAVES, in partnership with North Carolina Asian Americans Together, hosted a meaningful workshop on December 14 focused on promoting mental well-being among the AANHPI youth.

We aimed to create a safe and inclusive space for members of the AANHPI community to share their stories and experiences on mental health during the winter months. The workshop featured both in-person and online sessions, fostering active participation from attendees across platforms.

We were fortunate to have an incredible lineup of speakers who brought diverse perspectives and deep expertise in mental health and community engagement. Victor Armstrong, MSW, Vice President for Health Equity and Engagement at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, delivered an inspiring opening speech.

NC State Representative Maria Cervania, also an epidemiologist, shared her invaluable hard work in achieving health equity among the AANHPI community.

Additionally, mental health advocate Pooja S. Mehta, MPH led the audience through a thoughtful reflection on addressing health disparities within the Asian community and the actionable steps we can take to make a difference.

The event also invited a panel of clinical healthcare providers Jennifer Tu, Mary Shen and Peggy O. Wong, PMHNP-BC, a professor from UNCG Ana Sucaldito, and secondary school counselor Xi ‘Justin’ Zhang, who shared their professional expertise and heartfelt personal stories of navigating mental health challenges as members of the AANHPI community. Their contributions sparked profound and meaningful conversations and left a lasting impact on participants.

Organizing a hybrid event that prioritizes both safety and open dialogue is not easy, but UCA WAVES and NCAAT successfully brought this vision to life. The workshop not only deepened the audience’s understanding of AANHPI mental health but also underscored the importance of creating platforms for connection and learning. This event marks not merely the first step but an essential one of what we strive to promote: mental health awareness and equity within the AANHPI community.

Thank you to everyone who participated, shared their stories, and made this workshop a success. Let’s continue working together to support one another and build a future where mental health is a priority for all.

Session 1：Mental Health Disparities Among AAPI Communities

In the first session of the WAVES x NCAAT conference, three panelists—Jennifer Tu, Mary Shen, and Peggy Wong—shared their experiences as Asian women in psychiatry and discussed why they chose to work in mental health care. Jennifer studied neurobiology in college, and after she lost a friend to suicide when they were both sophomores, Jennifer became passionate about mental health and decided to help people who are struggling mentally by becoming a psychiatrist. Mary was trained in general surgery for five years, during which she performed multiple surgeries for patients whose need for surgery stemmed from mental health challenges: one of her patients needed gastrointestinal surgery due to an eating disorder. She pivoted to psychiatry hoping to address these problems at their root cause: mental health. Peggy has struggled with her learning disability since she was younger, and her experience led her into psychiatry, aiming to help more people who are struggling as she was. During the panel, all the panelists shared how their upbringing as Asian immigrants lent them a culture-sensitive lens when practicing psychiatry. Peggy shared a story about when she was working in an inpatient psych-ward, she had a young asian teen in the unit whose parents sat on different sides of the room and acted cold and distant from their child. She emphasized that although she understands that these parents are confused and hurt as well, she wishes that through more education and destigmatization, Asian parents can be more loving and warm to their children, especially when they are struggling mentally. Besides their own experience, panelists also shared some data regarding AAPI youth mental health. They brought up the alarming increase in AAPI teen suicide rate, agreeing that we need more research and funding put into promoting mental wellness for the AAPI population. 

WAVES Maker Mini Retreat

Nothing compares to the energy and depth that comes with face-to-face interaction, especially when it’s with a group of energetic, like-minded peers! There was an instant sense of camaraderie and shared purpose that made our retreat more meaningful and our collaboration feel more authentic. The magic unfolds through authentic connections—whether it’s over boba tea, southern BBQ, sharing the common experiences of growing up as Asian Americans in the U.S., discussing career paths, or dreaming about the future. Even more importantly, it’s about finding ways to support the younger generation in building connections professionally and personally, all while carving their own paths toward wellness and a sense of belonging. The energy was contagious and our hearts were full!

Thanks to the support of the Julian Grace Foundation, eight members of the UCA WAVES Young Professional Council (WAVES Makers) not only organized an incredible educational workshop for the #AANHPI community—working collaboratively both internally and externally—but also enjoyed a much-needed mini-retreat in Raleigh, NC. This marks hopefully the first of many WAVES Maker initiatives in the coming year, and we can’t wait to see how it will impact the next generation.

A huge thank you to Krystal Zhang for her dedication in organizing the workshop, and to our mental health experts Jennifer Tu, Peggy Wong, and Mary Shen for sharing their invaluable insights. Thanks to Elaine Wang and Justin Zhang for traveling to Raleigh, and to Xiaolu Sheng and Jason Tran for being such amazing hosts and helping to make the magic happen.