2 mental health events in 8 days & more to come
sharing some news & thoughts on World Mental Health Day
Hello friends, thanks for opening up this email and checking in on what's happening with Christian Asian Mental Health. I'm very grateful for the life God has been unfolding for me this year, and thank God for each and every one of you.
In the past month, I faced moments of discouragement when I got a closer look at how difficult and challenging it is to persuade a pastor or a church, particularly an Asian or Asian American one, to launch a mental health ministry.
All of us clearly see the problem of the mental health crisis around us. This we know: pastors are often the first person someone calls when they need help. And, those are the ones that humble themselves and call for help, because we Asians don't like to admit we need help. Actually, non-Asians don't like to admit we need help either; it's part of the human condition and why so many people don't want God's help to get through this thing called life.
Lights, Camera, and… Action!
But God has encouraged me so, with 2 mental health conferences in 8 days—one in Cleveland and one in Atlanta. At the Mental Health & the Church Conference, I shared a quick talk of 18 minutes titled, "How Churches Hold the Key to Unlock Mental Health for Asian Americans and non-Asians too"—
Being immersed for a couple days with others who are also doing their best to serve the mental health and wellness, I'll say, renewed my commitment and refreshed my spirit to persevere. Plus, God gave me a handful of divine appointments to find a couple of partners to collaborate for mental health ministry.
In fact, I'm headed to New York City right now on a train to meet with Dr. Teresa Hsu of SPEAK (Supportive Place for Empowering Asian Americans and Kin). I was delighted to meet her in Atlanta at the Asian American Psychological Association Convention on October 4-5.
As an added bonus, I happened to be in Atlanta on 2 special occasions: a string quartet fundraiser for P.E.A.C.E. (Peoples Empowerment Through Advocacy Counseling & Education)—free counseling sessions for Korean Americans; and, the 12th anniversary of 4Pointes Church—one of the only predominantly Asian American churches in the USA that self-identifies as Asian American. Why is that? Another topic for another day, though with so many Asian American churches and pastors not identifying as Asian American, I'm not sure how many people want to have a conversation about this.
Church Mental Health Summit is happening today on October 10!
In honor of World Mental Health Day, you can have FREE access all day today until 11:59pm EDT to the 2024 Church Mental Health Summit. Don't be limited by the expiration time today and purchase the all access pass to watch the summit videos forever. Here’s a sneak perview of my talk at this summit:
How to Launch a Mental Health Ministry (and Why We Must)
On Wednesday October 16th, I’ll be hosting a webinar at Catalyst Wellness Alliance for how Asian American churches can practically and easily launch a mental health ministry. Register for free to join live or to promptly get a link to the recording, with an exclusive invitation to participate in a free cohort with other Asian American churches that are preparing to launch mental health ministry in their respective contexts. Every church is unique and CAMH believes its ministry approach needs to be customized and personalized for their own communities.
connecting Christian therapists in the San Francisco Bay area
Christian Therapy Collaborative is launching a regular gathering for Christian therapists in the San Francisco Bay Area to meet, collaborate, and receive mutual support. Come to the kick-off party on Saturday October 19th in Milpitas and I’d love to see you there too! See details & RSVP at christiantherapycollaborative.org/kick-off
training mental health clinicians in Los Angeles
Consortium on Asian American Mental Health Training is hosting their 30th Annual Asian American Mental Health Training Conference on October 23rd in Alhambra, CA, a suburb of Los Angeles. The theme is “Working with Asian American Families: Principles and Practices.” This one has CEU credits for clinicians—what a great incentive, right? Event details at asianamericanmentalhealth.org
mental health conference in the DMV
Save the date Saturday December 7th, for Chinese Bible Church of Maryland will be hosting its 2nd annual mental health conference in Rockville, Maryland. Church website is cbcm.org
(aside: DMV is commonly known as the department of motor vehicles; but in the Washington DC area, it’s also the moniker for DC, Marlyand, and Virginia.)
You’re invited to partner in mental health ministry
Bless God for the month of October! What a whirlwind of nonstop back-to-back-to-back activities for me with mental health ministry, just the way I like it. :)
By the way, did you know I'm bi-vocational, working 3 paid gigs as a freelance consultant to pay the bills, all the while voluntarily doing the work of mental health ministry without pay? It's been a great joy to do this, I’m willing to do this for free, by God’s grace, and could do even more with the help and generosity of God’s people.
When and if God provides financial resources, in His time, then we'll accelerate the work of Christian Asian Mental Health to help more people receive care and support for all of mental health & wellness through Asian & Asian American churches.
You can partner with Christian Asian Mental Health by making an online donation. I am truly truly grateful for your generosity in every way.
— DJ Chuang, Executive Director of Catalyst Wellness Alliance & its program Christian Asian Mental Health • 949-243-7260 • dj@catalystwa.org