UCA WAVES Youth Mental Health Collaborative

07/28/2026

🌈♿ July is Disability Pride Month! ♿🌈

honors the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in July 1990, a landmark moment in the fight for , accessibility, and inclusion. This month, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and brilliance of the disability community.

Disability is not a flaw to be fixed. It's a natural part of human diversity. Whether visible or invisible, physical or cognitive, permanent or temporary, disabilities are part of the spectrum of identity.

📲 Want to know how you can celebrate? Education is always a great place to start. Checkout the link below for more info.

https://dredf.org/

07/27/2026

We wanted to share this joint post from National Alliance for Caregiving and NAMI that spotlights a group that frequently gets overlooked: caregivers.

Pulling together data and real stories, the article paints a nuanced picture of caregiving, and what changes we can make to lessen the mental, physical, and financial toll those in this cohort too often face. Give it a read now by clicking on the link below!⬇️

https://www.nami.org/blog/caring-for-the-caregiver-what-the-data-tells-us-about-mental-health-and-family-caregiving/

To all the caregivers out there, we see you and we stand by you🩵

Family caregivers are an important part of America’s mental health system, but data suggest they are under serious mental and emotional strain.

07/27/2026

Mental health is an intersectional issue, and July being illustrates that. Here's five things to know about how the two interact⬇️

1️⃣ individuals are significantly less likely to receive mental health care than white individuals. This is often due to cost, stigma, , and lack of culturally responsive services.

📎 Source: https://www.nami.org/advocacy/policy-priorities/supporting-community-inclusion-and-non-discrimination/mental-health-inequities-racism-and-racial-discrimination/

2️⃣ Racism is a mental health issue.
Exposure to racism is associated with increased rates of depression, anxiety, , and even suicidal ideation among BIPOC individuals.

📎 Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6532404/

3️⃣ Historical and impact how BIPOC communities experience and express mental health struggles.

📎 Source: https://www.nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/

4️⃣ Language barriers, status, and lack of representation in the mental health field are major roadblocks to care. This is especially true for , and immigrant communities.

📎 Source: https://mhanational.org/bipoc-mental-health/

5️⃣ Clients have better outcomes when understand their culture. Patients matched with therapists of the same racial or ethnic background show greater treatment retention and higher satisfaction with services.

📎 Source: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4228688/

At WAVES, we believe in for all, and this month is a time to reflect on why that's so important💜

07/23/2026

"No contact" has become a more common term in discussions about family relationships. It refers to the decision to end communication with a family member, often to protect one's mental health or well-being. While every situation is different, many families wonder: How can we prevent relationships from reaching that point?

In this excerpt from "Growing Up, Growing Apart, Growing Together: Strengthening Parent-Child Connection" at our Community In Action Mental Health Summit, Mary Shen poses that very question to our panelists: "How do we prevent no contact?"

Their thoughtful discussion explores the role of empathy, trust, and open, judgment-free communication in strengthening parent-child relationships before conflict turns into disconnection.

We'd love to hear your thoughts after watching. Drop your comments in the comments below!⬇️🩵

07/21/2026

Looking for a way to commemorate Minority Mental Health Month? Good news: We’ve got just the event for you!🗓️🫵🏼

On July 25th, NAMI and Mental Health Association for Chinese Communities (MHACC) will be hosting a screening of the award-winning documentary, Silent War: Asian American Reckonings with Mental Health.nAs many of you know, this powerful film follows several Asian Americans who courageously share their personal experiences with mental illness, recovery, family expectations, and resilience. Their stories challenge stigma, foster understanding, and inspire hope.

Following the screening, community leaders, mental health professionals, and advocates will participate in a panel discussion exploring pathways toward healing, support, and mental health equity. Interested? Here’s everything you need to know⬇️

⏰ When: July 25, 2026 | 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM
🗺️ Where: Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Main Library | 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco, CA 94102
🎟️ How: Reserve your spot for free at the link below.

A quick note: The expert panel discussion following the film will be conducted in English and will feature live simultaneous interpretation in Mandarin and Cantonese. Attendees who would like to use interpretation services are kindly asked to pick up interpretation headsets prior to the start of the panel discussion. Supplies may be limited, so early arrival is encouraged.

Want to learn more about this amazing project? Visit the film’s official website at silentwarmovie.com. We hope see you there!

📲 REGISTER NOW: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/july-blossoms-of-hopecalifornia-premiere-silent-war-tickets-1992192705009

07/17/2026

One of the highlights of our Mental Health Summit was our Young Scholars & Advocates Session, where youth , , and digital shared innovative projects exploring some of the most pressing issues facing communities today!📊👩🏻‍🔬

Projects covered topics ranging from stigma and family resilience to youth , health literacy, and creative approaches to advocacy. Undoubtedly, each presentation reflected the wide-ranging interests and remarkable talent of the of changemakers. We were especially excited to welcome presenters from diverse backgrounds across the United States (and even !🌏), demonstrating how youth leadership in mental health can unite and reach across borders.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Meina Liu for organizing this incredible session, as well as to our distinguished judges—Victor Armstrong, MSW; Dr. Mary Shen; Dr. Bonnie Liao; Jing (Gene) Chang; and Jing Kong—for sharing their time, expertise, and with our presenters. Last but not least, congratulations to all of our outstanding presenters. Your scholarship, , and passion remind us that the next generation isn't just preparing to shape the of mental health, but is already leading the way!🩵😊

Want to check out the full list of ? Click on the link below⬇️

https://ucawaves.org/2026/07/08/community-in-action-celebrating-youth-research/

07/14/2026

One of the most unforgettable moments from Community in Action was the performance of "Golden" from the hit film . The film has resonated with audiences around the world for its celebration of and its portrayal of characters who embrace every part of who they are. The song " " carries a powerful message of stepping out of the shadows, finding your voice, and recognizing your own worth, all messages that deeply align with our work to empower communities.

More than just a fun , it became a celebration of , confidence, and the power of being seen. As our Executive Director, Lily Chen, shared, "The energy from our next generation—and okay, us too—revealed something deeply felt: we want to be seen. No more hiding."

That spirit filled the room as voices joined together in , reminding us that matters, our matter, and every person deserves to feel heard, valued, and celebrated. We want to leave you with these lyrics straight from the song:

“We're goin' up, up, up, it's our moment
You know together we're glowin'
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Oh-oh-oh, up, up, up with our voices
Gonna be, gonna be golden
Oh-oh-oh, I'm done hidin', now I'm shinin' like I'm born to be
Oh, our time, no fears, no lies
That's who we're born to be.”

Here's to finding our , celebrating who we are, and being golden!🌟🎶

07/14/2026

July is Minority Month. Communities of color often face unique and compounding challenges, from cultural stigma and to discrimination, , and displacement. These factors can make it harder to access care, be heard, or heal.

Mental Health is an intersectional issue, and in order to make lasting progress—both collectively and individually—it’s pertinent to acknowledge how our layered intersect with one another, and the various roles each play in our experiences.

This month and every month, we will continue our mission of combating stigma, communities and promoting wellness🩵🧘🏾

📲 For more information on , checkout this link from the CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/minority-health/features/minority-mental-health.html

07/14/2026

Two weeks on, and we’re still not over what an incredible time we had in celebrating the 10th anniversary of United Chinese Americans - UCA and UCA WAVES!🎆 There, we were honored to host the Community in Action at UCA’s 5th Chinese American . Through a dynamic lineup of engaging and inspiring programs, the gathering brought together powerful voices, sparked meaningful , and highlighted how mental health can be woven into everyday life.

Attendees participated in morning and , reflective sessions on parent-child , discussions on careers in mental health, digital , youth research and advocacy, (Question, Persuade, Refer) su***de prevention training, a community showcase, and so much more. One of our favorite moments was watching youth energize the crowd with a flash mob performance of "Golden" from , celebrating confidence, identity, and culture. Our team also premiered its original Three-and-a-Half Sentence comedy skit, How We Ride WAVES, humorously reflecting on our organization's decade-long journey of breaking the silence around and walking alongside the in healing and resilience. We were touched to see the performance met with enthusiastic laughter and applause!

But along with reflecting on the past and present, we also got a glimpse into our future (spoiler alert: it’s looking bright!) Pioneers of the next generation traveled from across the country to share original research and compelling stories through art, film, and personal narratives exploring identity, bullying, family communication, and the experiences of immigrant families. Their presentations demonstrated the creativity, courage, and leadership of young people who are driving meaningful change in their communities.

The summit also provided a valuable opportunity for scholars, mental health professionals, families, , and representatives from community organizations to exchange ideas, share best practices, and strengthen partnerships. Conversations centered on mental health promotion, , youth empowerment, and cross-sector , laying the foundation for greater resource sharing and collective action in building healthier, more inclusive, and more resilient .

As we enter our next decade of impact, we warmly invite you to continue supporting and participating in this movement. Mark your calendars for September 10–11, 2027, in Raleigh, , for the next UCA WAVES Mental Health Summit, as we continue turning compassion into action and building healthier, stronger, and more communities for all!💙

Want to learn more about us and stay up on all things UCA WAVES? Visit our website at the link below!

📲https://ucawaves.org