A Month Made for WAVES

Marking both AANHPI Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, it feels like May was made for UCA WAVES. While we’re committed to our mission 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, this season creates an opportunity for the general public to reflect more on what so much of our work revolves around: the mental health crisis in the Asian American community.

Did you know AAPI individuals are nearly three times less likely to seek mental health care than their white counterparts? Or that suicide is the leading cause of death for AAPI young adults ages 15–24? The statistics are startling, and looking at the myriad of factors at play—intracultural stigma, language barriers, racism, care gaps—can be equally overwhelming. But it’s also why we do what we do.

Since 2016, UCA WAVES has worked tirelessly to close critical gaps in mental health support through a number of programs. Whether it’s providing Mental Health First Aid training and QPR suicide prevention training, conducting original community-based research, creating connections through community health workers, peer support and book clubs, empowering the next generation, or supporting storytelling initiatives like Silent War, everything we do is to advance our vision of a supportive and engaging community that fosters healthy and holistic development of our youth.

As we close out the month, we encourage you to consider making a donation. Every contribution—whether it’s $1 or $1,000—helps us continue our work in the community.

From everyone at UCA WAVES, thank you for inspiring and helping sustain this movement with us. Together, we can create waves. Together, we will save lives.