AAPI Mental Health Community Panel

Presented in partnership with Baylor College of Medicine

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Schedule

Wednesday, May 10, 2023
7 p.m. Program

Especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, alarming rises in anti-Asian hate and racism have been reported, with spikes of hate incidents and violence against Asians and Asian Americans documented by various groups. Exacerbating the impacts of this anti-Asian hate is the fact that AAPI communities are less likely to have access to mental health care, in large part because of severe health and economic disparities within this large and disparate group of 23 million people across 50 distinct ethnic groups.

Conversations and open dialogue are needed to unpack and understand issues around AAPI access to mental health care, particularly urgent due to the lasting impacts of anti-Asian racism and hate. Join Baylor College of Medicine’s Dr. Sophia Banu, Dr. Phuong Nguyen, Dr. Peggy Yang, Dr. Rose Yang, and Delphine Lee with facilitator Dr. John Saunders as they examine these issues, including resiliency and the need to build community to address shared challenges. This is an open-forum discussion, and questions and comments from attendees are strongly encouraged.

About the Speakers

Sophia Banu MD,MS, is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Baylor College of Medicine in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Her area of expertise includes working with refugees, survivors of torture and post disaster areas both natural and manmade.

Delphine Lee, LCSW-S, MSEd is a licensed clinical social worker and Assistant Professor at Baylor College of Medicine in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She provides psychotherapy services at Baylor Psychiatry Clinic and the Student and House Staff Mental Health Services at Baylor and is interested and involved in expanding mental health resources to the AAPI community.

Dr. Phuong Nguyen is an Associate Professor in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) and Director of Psychology Services at Ben Taub Hospital. Prior to coming to BCM, Dr. Nguyen was the Clinical Director at Asian American Family Services, where he and his staff provided social service and mental health care for Houston-area AAPI families. Dr. Nguyen obtained his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Massachusetts – Boston where he conducted research that focused on better understanding AAPI mental health issues and provided mental health care for some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged clients in the city.

Dr. Peggy Yang is faculty at Baylor College of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. She is a licensed psychologist. She taught Asian American Studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara and has researched Asian American acculturation and mental health.

Rose Yang, PsyD, is a psychologist and faculty member of the Baylor College of Medicine. She works on the Adult Division for the inpatient side at Menninger and is passionate about community and clinical issues related to AAPI mental health, postpartum support for women, and gender affirming care.

About the Facilitator

John Saunders MD, MS, is a psychiatrist and a faculty member at Baylor College of Medicine in the Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. He works in the Harris Health System. His clinical focus is community psychiatry and is passionate about teaching, he is the Departmental Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Business and Policy programs at Asia Society Texas are presented by Bank of America, Muffet Blake, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, and United Airlines. Major support comes from Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, Nancy Pollok Guinee, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as The Brown Foundation, Inc. and Houston Endowment. Additional funding is provided by the Friends of Asia Society Texas Center, a dedicated group of individuals and organizations committed to bringing the best in public programming.

Business & Policy Presenting Sponsors

Program Partner

About APAH Month at Asia Society Texas

Beginning in 2021, Asia Society Texas has celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Houston community and beyond through a curated calendar for 31 ways to celebrate over the 31 days of May. Spotlighting the traditions, talents, and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans, the calendar highlights the month's key Asia Society programming, providing a platform to showcase local artists, performers, educators, and leaders who contribute to the vibrant, multicultural tapestry of Houston while also featuring staff recommendations for our favorite music, books, movies, and more by Asian and Asian American creatives.

At Asia Society Texas, APAH Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor Asians and Asian Americans and to uplift their stories to a broader audience as part of our goal to inspire our larger community to better understand one another through culture, conversation, and connection. For information about sponsoring APAH Month and other projects like this one, please contact Saleena Jafry at SJafry@asiasociety.org or 713.496.9939.

See the 2023 Calendar

Sponsors of APAH Month at Asia Society Texas

Asian American Bar Association of Houston
Comcast
The Heimbinder Family Foundation

Past APAH Month Calendars

2022: Highlights | Details
2021: Details

About Asia Society Texas

Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.