Changing the Tide on Mental Health

Idea by LTSC Community Development Corporation

There is dire need to address the current mental health crises impacting AAPI youth in Los Angeles. Mental health services can be inaccessible for numerous reasons: stigma surrounding mental illness, lack of access to culturally-sensitive providers, language barriers, economic instability, and unavailability and inaccessibility of services. The goal of Changing Tides is to reduce these obstacles and provide an accessible, transparent, and inclusive opportunity to obtain mental health services.

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What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?

Immigrant and Refugee Support

In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?

Central LA

South Bay

In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?

The need for mental health targeting the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community is both undeniable and timely. 1 in 5 people experience mental illness. However, mental health remains a highly stigmatized and ‘taboo’ subject in AAPI communities. The need for youth mental health is supported by the disturbing upward trend in suicide rates. Data from the US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health indicates suicide is the leading cause of death among Asian Americans 20-24 years old. The pandemic and Asian hate crimes have only added to the reasons for why support for AAPI mental health care is vitally urgent. People who identify as AAPI are searching for mental health resources more in 2020 than ever before. The added vulnerability is that this group also has the most uninsured, creating a financial barrier to accessing care. Traditional models of mental health clinics have not been successful in reaching vulnerable youth communities.

Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.

LTSC’s “Changing Tides” (CT) seeks to inspire greater mental health discussion within the AAPI community, challenges the associated stigma and dares to change the way mental health is viewed with three programs: “Changing Tides Stream” offsets the costs of approximately 6-10 non-acute therapy sessions for those seeking therapy for the first time and/or for those unable to afford therapy. The program is open to youth/young adults 16-25 years old in Los Angeles and the South Bay areas of LA County. After CT receives an application, the stipend program coordinator works with the client to determine the best way to utilize the stipend. On the back end, CT works with its network of 45 mental health professionals to offer therapist-client matches and to assist with enrollment. The program is supported by continued post-stipend services to ensure that the program addresses the stigma, monetary needs, and emotional needs of program participants. CT continues the conversation surrounding mental health and stigma within the AAPI community with mental health discussions, workshops led by mental health professionals, community advocates and those willing to share their own mental health journeys in peer support groups and podcasts. Third, an “Art Talk” series invites participants to engage in an artistic practice while also considering the ways in which art plays a role in mental health. Each Art Talk consists of a workshop followed by a small group discussion led by CT facilitator.

Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.

If the project is successful the Los Angeles County’s AAPI community will see reduced stigma and increased awareness of mental health issues. More youth and young adults will increase their familiarity with navigating mental health services. Those unable to otherwise pay for therapy will have access to needed services. The AAPI community will be engaged in a non-intimidating environment that fosters open conversations around mental health. Cultural values around communication and suppressing emotions, which contribute to the success of the community, also act as barriers to acknowledging the need for help and accessing services. The program will help youth and families break down these barriers. For the long term, with reduced stigma, increased awareness, access to therapy and community engagement, ultimately the AAPI community will improve its collective mental health and fewer youth and young adults will be lost to suicide.

What evidence do you have that this project, program, or initiative is or will be successful, and how will you define and measure success?

CT Stream uses a survey through SurveyMonkey to get feedback from participants after they complete their therapy sessions. The survey asks questions about their demographics, past therapy experiences, stipend request process, the therapy experience itself, and more. The team that created this survey includes both CT staff and volunteers, including retired school psychologists, retired therapists, retired attorneys, and mental health advocates. The program has conducted one round of surveys to and it is making a positive impact on the participants’ mental health and accessibility to mental health. To measure the effectiveness of the non-therapy program services, participant surveys are utilized. Questions include: “The topic of today’s workshop/event/ program was helpful to me” Rate 1 (very unlikely) - 5 (very likely.) “I would want to come back to a future CT event.” Surveys are collected after each event and staff review and make changes to programming based on the survey results.

Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?

Direct Impact: 800

Indirect Impact: 2,000

LTSC Community Development Corporation

For over 30 years LTSC has been serving the Japanese/Japanese American community in the Greater Los Angeles area as the only regional provider of bilingual and bicultural social services. LTSC reaches 18,000 people each year. A significant proportion of our clients come to us from the broader Japanese/Japanese American community members who seek services such as child abuse prevention, consumer education, senior services, case management, individual and family counseling, and cultural education for children and youth.

As part of our community development work, LTSC has made significant efforts to revitalize Little Tokyo into a vibrant community. LTSC has worked in partnership with other entities to designate a major portion of Little Tokyo as a National Historic Landmark. LTSC has renovated and upgraded three buildings in the historic district:

*San Pedro Firm Building. This 1923 building was threatened with demolition by the City but quick action by LTSC and community advocates saved the building. After a $3 million renovation, it now provides 42 units of safe, clean, affordable housing to low-income seniors and other residents, and commercial space to longstanding and new small businesses.

*Old Union Church Building. Immediately next-door to the San Pedro Firm Building is the historic Old Union Church, one of the earliest Japanese American Christian church structures built in Los Angeles. In the 1970’s, the church congregation relocated and the aging building suffered in the ensuing years from neglect. Again LTSC led the effort to raise $4 million to bring this building back to life and now this once abandoned space is The Union Center for the Arts. *The Historic Far East Building with its famous Far East CafÃ© is located in the heart of the Little Tokyo Historic District, bearing witness to the birth, growth and development of what was, during its heyday in the 1920s and 30s, the largest Japanese American community in the mainland United States. After suffering severe damage during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the building’s future was uncertain, possibly taking with it all of its history. LTSC was able to save the building to keep this part of Little Tokyo’s history alive. *Casa Heiwa. Additionally, in 1996 LTSC completed the first new family-oriented housing project to be built in Little Tokyo in over 70 years. Through LTSC’s community organizing efforts we have established relationships with Little Tokyo residents and have taught them to collectively and formally represent their concerns. Moreover, we have worked with residents to develop a model for community involvement in planning. With our support and guidance, the residents have lobbied for two crosswalks, a post office and helped successfully fight to preserve affordable housing at a 100-unit building. They have also lobbied against a proposed 500-bed jail and have fought to limit bail bonds businesses in the area.

Organization website
LTSC.org
Learn about this organization’s budget, leadership and mission
charitynavigator.org

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