13 Mental Health & Wellness Resources For Asian-American Communities

The Asian Mental Health Collective is an organization that works to normalize and destigmatize mental health within the Asian American community by connecting AAPI mental health providers with clients and creating community in a private Facebook group. The AMHC also produces an “Ask a Therapist” video series, along with a podcast, resource library, and community blog, among other initiatives.

Founded by Carrie Zhang, the Asian Mental Health Project works to empower and educate members of the Asian American community when it comes to seeking mental health care. It maintains a therapist database, hosts digital summits, and holds virtual check-ins with its community weekly.

Brown Girl Therapy is an online community founded by mental health professional Sahaj Kaur Kohli, MA, NCC. It focuses on promoting therapy and unpacking bicultural identity. Though the account began as a creative outlet for Kohli’s writing, per an Instagram post, she quickly noticed the lack of South Asian representation among mental health and wellness social platforms and has since worked to make these issues more visible by starting conversations about mental health through her weekly newsletters, digital workshops, and virtual meet-ups.

Since it was founded in 2001, NAAPIMHA has been on a mission to raise awareness about the role of mental health in the AAPI community, advocate for suicide prevention, create access to high-quality mental health services, and empower people to seek mental health support by working with both patients and community-led organizations.

Founded by Yin J. Li, a marriage and family therapist, Asians Do Therapy was created to highlight Asian Americans’ experiences in therapy. The platform shares resources on how to find the right therapist, as well as videos and articles highlighting prominent Asian Americans who have publicly spoken about therapy. Individuals are invited to share their own stories on their website, as well as on the Asians Do Therapy podcast, which features both Asian therapists and clients alike.

Project Lotus is a youth-led organization working to challenge the model minority myth while empowering and educating the Asian American community about the importance of mental health. In addition to the group’s social platform and podcast, Project Lotus invites participants to contribute articles and opinion pieces about mental health issues that were once considered taboo — like depression, anxiety, or seeking therapy.

With a focus on connecting South Asian clients with mental health professionals, the South Asian Therapists database was founded by lawyer and activist Raj Khaira after seeing the volume of distressed messages her feminist organization the Pink Ladoo Project, which works to combat gender bias in South Asian customs, had been getting following its launch. The idea was to start a small list of therapists so Khaira could refer her followers, per the database’s website, but within the first three days of its launch in June 2020, more than 300 therapists responded. And the resource has only continued to grow.

Launched in November of 2020 by friends Karl and Rachel, the Misfortune Cookies podcast provides a space for Asian Americans to share their mental health stories while working to destigmatize conversations about the topic in the Asian American community.

Alyssa “Lia” Mancao is a California-based psychotherapist who regularly hosts Instagram Live sessions to talk about mental health and self-care. She takes a holistic approach to mental health and wellness on her podcast as well as in her private practice; she talks about the value of reiki, for example, for reducing stress, increased relaxation, and an enhanced state of balance.

Founded by therapist and author Nisha Patel, LCSW, Brown Girl Trauma is an online community aimed at destigmatizing mental illness and empowering others to seek mental health support. With the intent to break the cycle of generational trauma, Patel uses her platform to speak to topics like dysfunctional families and healing from emotional abuse, among many other issues.

Laura Lu, MSc, RCC, is a San Francisco-based psychotherapist who regularly discusses how issues like racial trauma and internalized capitalism impact mental and emotional health.

Aparna Sagaram, LMFT is a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Philadelphia who talks about the negative impacts of the model minority myth on her Instagram. She regularly posts advice about setting boundaries and resolving conflict in relationships, in addition to providing therapy IRL at Space To Reflect, a counseling service available to queer POC, couples, children of immigrants, and BIPOC.

Founded in 2005, the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance, or NQAPIA, is an organization that empowers LGBTQ+ Asians and Pacific Islanders who are navigating the challenges that may arise in their community. The group focuses on advocacy and policy and also offers resources and support.