By Soha Mahapatra
Walking on the sidewalks of Washington D.C., I glanced around my surroundings, taking in some of the most notable symbols of the United States. But my mind was elsewhere, reciting a string of words over and over again. My nerves were through the roof as I stood in the security clearance line, making small talk with my fellow organization members as I attempted to squash the worries in my mind. I was on the White House campus, present to represent not just AAPI Youth Rising, but the entire Asian-American youth community and their mental health needs.
Ethan and I walked alongside each other into the beautiful treaty room, which had been set up in a panel layout. I took note of the names on placards as I walked to my seat, noticing a common theme of leaders from AANHPI organizations, mental health professionals, and representatives from the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI). The set up itself reminded me of a Model United Nations Conference, something I had partaken in many times in the past few years. But this event was a far cry from a simulation. Because here, at the second ever WHIAANHPI Mental Health Convening, Ethan and I would be presenting the AAPI youth perspective on mental health to the presidential administration, giving us a role in the influencing of national policy.
As Ethan and I sat down, glancing at the placards bearing our names before pulling out a paper copy of our speech and rehearsing one final time. Before the event, we had the chance to converse with panelists from across the country, each representing a different community or organization, and each with a different perspective on what the government had to provide to aid the mental health of AANHPI community members. One thing I noticed that all these leaders had in common was their passion for making the world a better place for the AANHPI community, and ensuring that their community’s perspective was heard on a national scale.
The event began with speeches from notable government officials, including Admiral Levine, the Assistant Secretary for Health. It was great to hear about the various initiatives and perspectives from within the government. Something that especially surprised me was the variety of programs and resources being developed by government adjacent organizations like Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 988 Suicide & Crisis Line was a really interesting part of the presentation, especially the case studies described. It meant so much to me that there were so many resources available, but it also brought the realization that many members of the community did not know about the multitude of things available that could help them with their mental health.
Then came time for the testimonies. As we went around the room and listened to each person’s thoughts, common themes emerged of ensuring the maintenance of cultural sensitivity when developing mental health programs for a group of individuals that was made up of a variety of traditions, practices, and needs. Another main point discussed was greater support for smaller and more issue-specific organizations from the government so that these initiatives could help their communities to the fullest.
It was our turn. Ethan and I spoke about the challenges of Asian-American youth, citing how hatred and stereotyping had had a huge impact on our community. Our rehearsed speech sounded organic, with the passion of our entire community behind us as we spoke. When the six minutes of our testimony concluded, there was a weight lifted off my chest. We had just had a role in the shaping of government actions for the benefit of our community.
After the testimony ended, we rose for pictures. Immediately, we were met with a variety of community leaders who spoke with us about our work, inquired more about the issues we mentioned in our speech, and connected with us on common challenges and needs. The energy in the room was powerful, and as we exited, walking down the steps of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, I couldn’t help but turn back and reflect on one of the most empowering experiences I had had relating to representing and advocating for my community.