Asian mental health

Many individuals from Asian diasporas in Aotearoa New Zealand have consistently called for a greater focus on mental health issues. This project responds to this call and aims to highlight various discussions, understandings, and perspectives on mental health of Asian communities in Aotearoa.

Auckland hui: Reimagining Asian Mental Health

Auckland hui: Reimagining Asian Mental Health

Join us in Auckland for a day of insight, discussion, and care, focused on the topic of mental health among Asian communities in Aotearoa New Zealand.
‘People desperately need support that is culturally safe and responsive’

‘People desperately need support that is culturally safe and responsive’

Maria Milmine’s approach to counselling is infused with a critical awareness of how factors such as migration, race, gender, colonisation, and class impact an individual’s mental health. Here she shares about her experiences working in New Zealand’s mental health system.
Watch: Cultural safety in our mental health system is a collective responsibility

Watch: Cultural safety in our mental health system is a collective responsibility

Maria Milmine is a counsellor and part of a small collective of Filipino therapists. She speaks about working in our mental health system.
‘You are not broken; the system is’: understanding different contexts in healing

‘You are not broken; the system is’: understanding different contexts in healing

Sehar Moughal is a psychologist, activist, public speaker, teacher, and doctoral candidate at the University of Auckland. Her professional and research work centres around challenging the status quo and advocating for people on the fringes. Mehwish Mughal, who leads our Asian Mental Health project, asks Sehar what makes her so passionate about the work she does.
Watch: Psychologist Sehar Moughal: ‘You cannot look at an individual or their action in isolation’

Watch: Psychologist Sehar Moughal: ‘You cannot look at an individual or their action in isolation’

“For so long we looked at the mainstream perspective [of mental health] as the baseline perspective. It’s not. There could be other perspectives, catered for other cultural groups, and they could exist in harmony.”
Why we need to reframe the conversation on ‘Asian’ mental health in Aotearoa

Why we need to reframe the conversation on ‘Asian’ mental health in Aotearoa

We hear from several knowledge holders working in the Asian mental health space as they outline the key issues we need to tackle to open the door to positive change.
‘Healing doesn’t just happen in one mode’: reconsidering what ‘therapy’ looks like

‘Healing doesn’t just happen in one mode’: reconsidering what ‘therapy’ looks like

Dharshi’s work in the mental health space challenges us to reconsider what ‘therapy’ looks like, where it happens, and who does it. Here, she discusses her philosophy, dreams, hopes for change, and tips for self-care.
Watch: Movement coach Dharshi Ponnampalam talks philosophy, dreams, hopes for change, and tips for self-care

Watch: Movement coach Dharshi Ponnampalam talks philosophy, dreams, hopes for change, and tips for self-care

Dharshi discusses her dance therapy sessions and workshops – typically frequented by women from South Asian communities – which offer the benefits of dance while doubling as a safe space for students to form friendships and find community.
Blog: Unravelling threads: introducing our Asian Mental Health project

Blog: Unravelling threads: introducing our Asian Mental Health project

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week (26 Sep – 2 Oct), researcher and activist Mehwish Mughal and Grace Gassin, Curator Asian New Zealand Histories, proudly launch our new Asian Mental Health project.
Why Asian mental health matters in Aotearoa

Why Asian mental health matters in Aotearoa

Many individuals from, and working alongside, Asian diasporas in Aotearoa New Zealand have consistently called for a greater focus on mental health issues. Here, our Asian Mental Health project lead Mehwish Mughal offers a deeply personal insight into why the mental health concerns of Asian communities need to be addressed.
Zine: Unravelling threads: Asian mental health

Zine: Unravelling threads: Asian mental health

A zine featuring submissions from contributors of diverse Asian heritages on mental health-related themes and experiences.
Project: Asian mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand

Project: Asian mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand

Many individuals from, and working alongside, Asian diasporas in Aotearoa, New Zealand, have consistently called for a greater focus on mental health issues.

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Asian mental health

Auckland hui: Reimagining Asian Mental Health

‘People desperately need support that is culturally safe and responsive’

Watch: Cultural safety in our mental health system is a collective responsibility

‘You are not broken; the system is’: understanding different contexts in healing

Watch: Psychologist Sehar Moughal: ‘You cannot look at an individual or their action in isolation’

Why we need to reframe the conversation on ‘Asian’ mental health in Aotearoa

‘Healing doesn’t just happen in one mode’: reconsidering what ‘therapy’ looks like

Watch: Movement coach Dharshi Ponnampalam talks philosophy, dreams, hopes for change, and tips for self-care

Blog: Unravelling threads: introducing our Asian Mental Health project

Why Asian mental health matters in Aotearoa

Zine: Unravelling threads: Asian mental health

Project: Asian mental health in Aotearoa New Zealand