Event Recap: Workshop on The Health and Well-Being of AAPI Students

APISBMA’s workshop “The Health and Well-Being of AAPI Students” on Feb 14, 2022 included a panel of experts who work in the field

of behavioral health:

• Mary Cheryl Gloner; CEO, Project Safety Net

• Nira Singh, Psy.D; Director of Behavioral Health – AACI

• Razelle Buenavista; Managing Director of Asian American Recovery Services

• David Mineta; CEO & President, Momentum for Health

The panel was facilitated by the:

• Honorable Alex Lee, California’s 25th District Assemblymember

The key take-aways were that it is imperative for school board members, educators, and community members, to uncover the often invisible social-emotional needs of API students. Asian cultures too often stigmatize mental health issues and students’ abilities to maintain a semblance of normalcy and even academic excellence, mask serious and life-threatening issues. They stressed the importance of cultural humility and representation to create safe space for students. The panel and facilitator provided personal stories, statistics, mental health services and actionable policies that board members can pursue.