Asian Mental Health Collective, Author at Asian Mental Health Collective

5 minute read

The days between Thanksgiving and the New Year can be a dizzying haze. Outside your window, you see lights wrap around decorated houses, their brightness compensating for an early setting sun. It reminds you of home, where savoury and sweet scents saturate the air from early afternoon until late in the night—hot chocolate, fresh rice, aunty’s curry, and whatever everyone is bringing for the family party. Any other time of the year you would jump at the opportunity to visit family, but you feel a weight press against your chest. You feel dread as you stare at the gifts and money packets you prepared for all your nieces and nephews. An uninviting winter chill penetrates your bones. You can’t get out of bed. Everything feels like an attack to your senses. You ignore your parents’ calls.

As an Asian living in the US, it can be difficult to take the impact of these experiences seriously. If you were brought up in a culture that stigmatizes mental health and prioritizes stoicism, it might seem silly to not be able to get over things so inconsequential. You think: it’s probably the winter blues or stress. But it might be something else you’ve heard others talk about: Seasonal Affective Disorder.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Seasonal Affective Disorder is a “recurrent mood disorder in which depressive episodes regularly begin in one season and remit in another season” (Kasof, 2009, p. 79). Commonly referred to as “SAD,” it also goes by other names, including “seasonal depression” and “winter depression.” Approximately 5% of people living in the United States experience SAD (Mental Health America, n.d.).

Though it is often associated with fall and winter months (termed winter-SAD), SAD has also been observed in the spring and summer months (termed summer-SAD) (Kasof, 2009, p. 79). Symptoms for winter-SAD include loss of drive and energy, prolonged sleep, increased food intake (Rothenberg et al., 2004, p. 209), among others. Summer-SAD can also manifest in a similar fashion, though for those managing bipolar disorders, spring and summer months may also see manic or hypomanic episodes (American Psychiatric Association, 2013 via Rothenberg et al., 2004, p. 209).

Who is at risk for Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Though SAD is aptly named after its main diagnostic characteristic, several studies shine light on factors that correlate with its occurrence. Studies have looked at patterns that factor in geography, climate and culture, and found that people are possibly more at risk if they:

Have moved to a new country within the past 10 years (Kurata et al., 2016, p. 7)
Are already experiencing mental distress (Saheer et al., 2013, p. 241)
Live in high latitude (non-equatorial) areas with limited exposure to sunlight (Haggarty et al., 2002, p. 382; Kurata et al., 2016, p. 6; Stewart et al., 2014, p. 518)

For many in the Asian American community, these risk factors are common aspects of lived experiences. According to the Pew Research Center, 54% of 24 million Asian Americans living in the U.S. immigrated to the country (Tian et al., 2024). The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health (n.d.) states that 10.2% of the Asian American population over the age of 18 experienced serious psychological distress in 2023 – a big jump from 1.9% in 2018.

Culturally informed practices to protect against Seasonal Affective Disorder

Being in community and maintaining socializing activities (Kurata et al., 2016, p. 7), exercising, and being outdoors (Rothenberg et al., 2024, pp. 216-217) have been observed to provide benefits for those experiencing SAD. While studies around SAD often focus on treating geographic and climate factors through increased sun exposure through travel and light therapies (Rothenberg et al., 2024, p. 214), these solutions are not 100% effective and may not be accessible for those with limited resources.

Cultural factors were consistent considerations in studies, often referring to the impact cultural and social norms have over the perception of mental health and treatment. While it is important to not self-diagnose, solutions can be hard to find if the problem can’t be recognized in the first place. Identifying, understanding and being able to articulate your experiences can help with finding the right support. Choosing to work with a culturally-sensitive professional can make a huge impact, especially at times of crisis.

This is why we at AMHC emphasize the importance of ensuring diversity in therapeutic practice. For those looking to connect to an Asian therapist, we’ve compiled a list of practitioners across America in our directory.

For those in need, we also run applications throughout the year for free therapy sessions through our Lotus Therapy Fund.

Sources

American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/seasonal-affective-disorder

Bodden, S., Lorimer, H., Parr, H., & Williams, C. (2024). SAD geographies: Making light matter. Progress in Human Geography, 48(5), 595-613. https://doi.org/10.1177/03091325241252846

Boldschmied, J. R., Palermo, E., Sperry, S., Burgess, H. J., McCarthy, M., Yocum, A., McInnis, M., & German, P. (2025). Seasonal variation in mood among individuals with and without bipolar disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 369, 1131-1135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.10.101

Chen, Z., Zhang, X., & Tu, Z. (2024). Treatment measures for seasonal affective disorder: A network meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 350, 531-536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.01.028

Haggarty, J. M., Cernovsky, Z., Husni, M., Minor, K., Kermeen, P., & Merskey, H. (2002). Seasonal affective disorder in an Arctic community. Acta Psychiatric Scandinavica, 105(5), 378-384. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0447.2002.1o185.x

Jack, R. H., Joseph, R. M., Hollis, C., Hippisley-Cox, J., Butler, D., Waldram, D., & Coupland, C. (2023). Seasonal trends in antidepressant prescribing, depression, anxiety and self-harm in adolescents and young adults: an open cohort study using English primary care data. BMJ Mental Health, 26(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjment-2023-300855

Kasof, J. (2009). Cultural variation in seasonal depression: Cross-national differences in winter versus summer patterns of seasonal affective disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 115(1-2), 79-86. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2008.09.004

Kurata, Y., Izawa, S., & Nomura, S. (2016). Seasonality in mood and behaviours of Japanese residents in high-latitude regions: transnational cross-sectional study. BioPsychoSocial Medicine, 10:33. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13030-016-0084-2

Mental Health America. (n.d.). Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). https://mhanational.org/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad

Rothenberg, M., Nussbaumer-Streit, B., Pjrek, E., & Winkler, D. (2024). Lifestyle modification as intervention for seasonal affective disorder: A systematic review. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 174, 209-219. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.03.053

Saheer, T. B., Lien, L., Hauff, E., & Kumar, B. N. (2013). Ethnic differences in seasonal affective disorder and associated factors among five immigrant groups in Norway. Journal of Affective Disorders, 151(1), 237-242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2013.05.086

Stewart, A. E., Roecklein, K. A., Tanner, S., & Kimlin, M. G. (2014). Possible contributions of skin pigmentation and vitamin D in a polyfactorial model of seasonal affective disorder. Medical Hypotheses, 83(5), 517-525. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2014.09.010

Suhail, K. & Cochrane, R. (1997). Seasonal changes in affective state in samples of Asian and white women. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 32(3), 149-157. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00794614

Suhail, K. & Cochrane, R. (1998). Seasonal variations in hospital admissions for affective disorders by gender and ethnicity. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 33(5), 211-217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s001270050045

Tian, Z., Im, C., Mukherjee, S., & Budiman, A. (2024, October 9). Why Asian Immigrants Come to the U.S. and How They View Life Here. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/10/09/why-asian-immigrants-come-to-the-u-s-and-how-they-view-life-here/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health. (n.d.). Mental and Behavioral Health – Asian Americans. https://minorityhealth.hhs.gov/mental-and-behavioral-health-asian-americans

7 min read

The next four years can seem like a scary unknown, wherever you fall on the political spectrum. Drastic cultural shifts have revealed huge divides within the country, with polarization pulling communities apart. As identity politics continue to be weaponized by both sides of the political aisle (Lopez, 2017), the current political climate can feel volatile, and at times, downright adversarial. Livelihoods are being affected in very real ways across the country, from the introduction of Islamophobic (Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkley, n.d.) and transphobic (Trans Legislation Tracker, n.d.) policies, to removal of reproductive rights (Department of Health and Human Services, n.d.), and to threats of mass deportation by military means (Montoya-Galvez et al., 2024).

It’s important to find ways to take care of yourself and build resilience through these challenging times. We’ve compiled some strategies to help you remain safe, physically and mentally, at both an individual and community level. Additional resources are also listed below:

At an individual level

Maintenance strategies play a significant role in maintaining mental and physical safety. Low-barrier activities such as mindfulness meditation, breathwork, physical activity, connection with nature, and reduced social media usage contribute to improvements in overall health, specifically for individuals experiencing anxiety and depression.

Mindfulness meditation & breathwork

Mindfulness meditation can reduce stress and anxiety, and can help with depression when implemented consistently on a long-term basis (Li et al., 2020, p. 67). Mindfulness meditation is “the process of focusing one’s mind in the present moment, maintaining a nonjudgmental attitude, and detaching from destructive thoughts and feelings,” (Dryden & Still, 2006 as cited by Li et al., 2020, p. 60). Mindfulness meditation includes meditation, mindfulness of decompression therapy, and mindfulness of cognitive therapy (Hwang et al., 2018 as cited by Li et al., 2020 p. 60).

Breathing practices and breathwork have also shown to have a positive impact on stress reduction. Breathing practices include diaphragmatic breathing, paced slow breathing, breathing with biofeedback, and alternate-nostril breathing (Bentley et al., 2023). Breathwork has been shown to be most effective when introduced into daily/weekly practice.

For those wanting to give it a try, the University of Melbourne provides guided exercises for mindfulness meditation, and Stanford Medicine has published a quick instructional on cyclic breathing.

Reducing social media and increasing physical activity

While keeping informed remains an important aspect of social participation, it can also have negative impacts on mental health, especially when it leads to excessive social media use. Studies have shown a link between problematic use of social media and social media fatigue, creating a self-sustaining loop that worsens over time (Chen et al., 2024, p. 463). Problematic use is defined as the “uncontrollable, prolonged use of social media and the resulting physical discomfort and psychosocial maladjustment,” (Mok et al., 2014, as cited by Chen et al., p. 458). Social media fatigue has been described as “a state of mental exhaustion suffered by users after experiencing technological, informational, and communication overload when using social media,” (Dhir et al., 2018 as cited by Chen et al., 2024, p. 468). Problematic use has been found to be both a stressor and an antecedent (trigger) for technological stressors, which means that those addicted to social media are also then experiencing social media fatigue (Chen et al., p. 458).

There is good news, however. A combined and strategic reduction in social media use and increase in physical activities has been found to improve health outcomes (Brailovskaia et al., 2022, p. 1894), as opposed to decreasing social media use alone (Brailovskaia et al., 2022, p. 1890). Physical activities have been shown to improve mental health outcomes for individuals dealing with depression, even at a low-to-moderate level (Hussenoeder et al., 2023, p. 2425). Participation in team sports have been found to improve health outcomes due in part to social factors (Clément et al., 2024), and participation in outdoor activities has been linked to positive impacts on mental health by virtue of connecting with nature (Nugraha et al., 2024, p. 645).

At a community level

Fear can be an incredibly isolating feeling; it can be reassuring to find others who understand what you’re going through. Social support has been associated with a 55% reduction in odds of elevated depressive symptoms (Choi et al., 2023, p. 431)—you shouldn’t have to go at it alone.

Lean into community resources & support

Community groups and resources can provide various levels of support, depending on issues you’re dealing with. This can span from free, in-person support groups to paid community services. Our Resource/Org Directory compiles resources around the country for those seeking specific community support.

Virtual tools

Depending on where you live, community support may not be easy to access. Online and virtual resources may be more feasible for those not experiencing immediate crisis. Our Therapist Directory includes Asian certified mental health practitioners of all kinds who provide virtual therapy sessions across the country. Mobile apps like Headspace and Happify provide asynchronous support through their resource libraries and friendly, gamified user experiences.

Understand your rights

If you foresee your safety and rights being at risk in relation to upcoming political shifts, it might be worth looking into ways to protect yourself legally. Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Lawyers Guild provide educational resources regarding specific rights for those currently living in America. The American Bar Association maintains an online index of legal resources, including links to pro bono programs, legal aid and a link to their virtual legal advice clinic.

Being prepared

According to the Centre for Disease Control (n.d.), suicide was one of the leading causes of death within the Asian population in 2022, especially for those between 15-34 years of age. 2023 data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (n.d.) revealed that Asian American adults were less likely than other minority populations to receive mental health treatment. The American Psychiatric Association (2020) cited cultural and systemic factors as possible reasons why service use is seemingly low within AAPI populations.

It’s unclear what lies ahead. Incorporating additional tools can help build resilience and protective layers to maintaining physical, emotional and mental safety. Create plans for days when you’re not feeling 100%, and for days you feel like you need support the most. Build a mental health first aid kit (Cadloff, 2018). And if possible, involve those you trust in the process as well.

Additional Resources

Some days are harder than others, and support can look different between individuals. Below is a list of additional resources, categorized based on type of support provided:

Virtual mental health resources:

Legal support:

Sources

American Psychiatric Association. (2020). Mental Health Facts For Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders. https://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Psychiatrists/Cultural-Competency/Mental-Health-Disparities/Mental-Health-Facts-for-Asian-Americans-Pacific-Islanders.pdf

Bently, T. G. K., D’Andrea-Penna, G., Rakic, M., Arce, N., LaFaille, M., Berman, R., Cooley, K., & Sprimont, P. (2023). Breathing Practices for Stress and Anxiety Reduction: Conceptual Framework of Implementation Guidelines Based on a Systematic Review of the Published Literature. Brain Sciences, 13, 1612. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13121612

Brailovskaia, J., Swanlike, V. J., Grethe, G. A., Schillack, H., & Margraf, J. (2022). Experimental longitudinal evidence for causal role of social media use and physical activity in COVID‑19 burden and mental health. Journal of Public Health, 21, 1885-1898. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-022-01751-x

Cadloff, E. B. (2018, December 3). How first-aid kits for mental health symptoms are helping Canadian university students. Maclean’s. https://macleans.ca/economy/business/first-aid-kit-mental-health/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Leading Causes of Death. WISQARS Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System. https://wisqars.cdc.gov/lcd/?o=LCD&y1=2022&y2=2022&ct=10&cc=ALL&g=00&s=0&r=4&ry=2&e=0&ar=lcd1age&at=groups&ag=lcd1age&a1=0&a2=199. Accessed November 20, 2024.

Chen, B., Sun, X., Zhang, Q., & Yao, L. (2024). Are Fatigued Users Fleeing Social Media? A Three-Level Meta-Analysis on the Association Between Social Media Fatigue and Social Media Use. Psychology of Popular Media, 13(3), 457-471. https://doi.org/10.1037/ppm0000495

Choi, K. W., Lee, Y. H., Fatori, D., Bauermeister, J. R., Luh, R. A., Clark, C. R., Brunoni, A. R., Bauermeister, S., & Smoller, J. W. (2023). Social support and depression during a global crisis. Nature Mental Health, 1, 428-435. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-023-00078-0

Clément, J., Gallant, F., Hudon, C., Montiel, C., Riglea, T., Barbiche, D., Doré, I., Sylvestre, M., O’Loughlin, J., & Bélanger, M. (2024). Use of physical activity as a coping strategy mediates the association between adolescent team sports participation and emerging adult mental health. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 27, 100612. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2024.100612

Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Home. ReproductiveRights.Gov. https://reproductiverights.gov/. Accessed November 18, 2024.

Hussenoeder, F. S., Conrad, I., Pabst, A., Engel, C., Zachariae, S., Zeynalova, S., Glaesmer, H., Hinz, A., Witte, V., Schomerus, G., Löffler, M., Villringer, A., Sander, C., & Reidel-Heller, S. G. (2023). Physical activity and mental health: the connection between step count and depression, anxiety and quality of sleep. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 28(9), 2419-2429. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2022.2159453

Li, Y., Sun, W., Sun, X., Sun, J., Yang, D., Jia, B., & Yuan, B. (2021). Effects of mindfulness meditation on anxiety, depression, stress, and mindfulness in nursing students: a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of randomized controlled trials. Frontiers of Nursing, 7(1), 59-69. https://doi.org/10.2478/FON-2020-0001

Lopez, G. (2017, August 17). The battle over identity politics, explained. Vox. https://www.vox.com/identities/2016/12/2/13718770/identity-politics

Montoya-Galvez, C., Watson, E., & Sganga, N. (2024, November 20). How could the U.S. military be used for Trump’s mass deportation plan? CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-military-trump-mass-deportation-plan/

National Institutes of Health. (2023, November 2). All of Us Data Shows the Power of Social Support to Prevent Depression. All of Us Research Program. https://allofus.nih.gov/news-events/research-highlights/all-of-us-data-shows-power-of-social-support-to-prevent-depression

Nugraha, H., Hernawan, Ali, M., Rahmat, A, Septante, I., Aryati, & Suryadi, D. (2024). Outdoor activities and outdoor environments for fitness and mental health: a systematic review. Retos: Nuevas Perspectivas de Educación Física, Deporte y Recreación, 59, 642-648.

Othering & Belonging Institute at UC Berkley. (n.d.). Islamophobia Legislative Database. https://belonging.berkeley.edu/islamophobia/islamophobia-legislative-database. Accessed November 18, 2024

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (n.d.). Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental Health Detailed Tables. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/reports/rpt47100/NSDUHDetailedTabs2023/NSDUHDetailedTabs2023/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables-sect6pe.htm#tab6.21b. Accessed November 20, 2024.

Trans Legislation Tracker. (n.d.). 2024 anti-trans bills tracker. https://translegislation.com/. Accessed November 18, 2024.

The Lotus is our monthly email newsletter that spotlights AMHC’s volunteers, lifts up diasporic Asian mental health stories, and provides resources and support for the Asian community. Learn more from two of the amazing women behind the newsletter, Nico Cruz and Tina Tran, and be sure to subscribe to get all the latest from AMHC.

1) How did you get involved with AMHC?

Nico: After a five month hiatus from graphic design, my older brother asked me if I was interested in being involved with AMHC and their email newsletter that was in the works. Though I was in the Subtle Asian Mental Health Facebook group, my knowledge on AMHC or what they were all about was very limited. Regardless, something inside me was telling me, “why not try it out? It could be a great experience and really fun.” I told my brother that I was interested, and a few days later, Lisa Cheng, Chief of Human Resources for AMHC, contacted me. Since then, I haven’t looked back! Not only am I a part of AMHC’s amazing newsletter team, but I also have the privilege of interning with them as well.

Tina: I’m a member of Subtle Asian Mental Health, which is where I was introduced to AMHC. After seeing a post from Lisa Cheng about volunteer opportunities, I decided to apply and have been with AMHC ever since! I particularly wanted to join the newsletter team as I have always loved doing outreach and writing articles. As someone going into the medical field, I don’t have many opportunities to expand on my creative interests. Joining AMHC’s newsletter team gave me a chance to combine my love for writing with my interest in mental health.

2) Tell us about The Lotus–what is it and how does it engage the AMHC community?

Nico: The Lotus serves as an outlet for many different opportunities. For starters, it’s used as a way to shine a spotlight on members of our community and recognize them for all that they’ve done to support Asian mental health thus far. AMHC is a fully volunteer-led organization and without the hard work and dedication that every volunteer contributes, AMHC would not be where it is today. The newsletter also creates the most efficient way possible for our team to gather and share information about past and upcoming AMHC events, mental health resources and people/organizations that need to be recognized.

Tina: The newsletter combines all of AMHC’s organization updates with new, engaging content every month. We focus on different themes every edition, like Pride month or Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and we feature rising leaders in the Asian community who are working hard to bring awareness to their respective issues. Our newsletter also gives a rundown of resources that are important for the community to be aware of. Last but not least, the newsletter gives a quick update on everything new in AMHC to help connect and grow the community.

3) What do you love most about being on AMHC’s newsletter team?

Nico: I am proud to be a part of this small, but mighty group of women, and I will never get tired of saying that! In all honesty, I’ve always struggled with working in teams. I constantly feared letting other members of my team down and continuously told myself that I wouldn’t be able to contribute enough. Working with The Lotus team has helped me get over these fears and see the value in teamwork. It is what you make of it, right? I found in this team a group of compassionate and resilient women who showed me that even when life continues to place barriers in front of us, it really isn’t the end of the world. Even if plans need to be shifted around, we adjust and move forward.

Tina: I love being able to work alongside such strong and resilient women! I am honored to have met all the brilliant women on this team and have learned so much from them. They have helped inspire me to take charge of my mental health and have become a great support in my life. Our team may be small, but we are very mighty!

4) What are some ways you’ve learned to care for your mental health?

Nico: For a long time, I had a horrible habit of neglecting myself and not seeing the purpose of rest. I would work and tell myself that I couldn’t rest until I accomplished everything on my plate. However, I didn’t end up getting the rest that I needed. Instead, I burnt out and spent an excessive amount of time recuperating. This became a cycle for me until I finally told myself that I needed to find a way to balance both my priorities and myself. With the holidays coming up, one of my favorite ways to rest is to watch a Hallmark Christmas movie while wrapped up in a blanket and snuggled against my new pups, Adam and Rio. I also enjoy trying new recipes, catching up on my favorite tv shows (i.e. Grey’s Anatomy, The Resident, and The Flash) and if I really have the time, read a good book.

Tina: Self-care is a department that I am still struggling in and I constantly have to remind myself to take some time to rest. I was raised to always be grinding and working hard and I definitely still have that mindset. However, my parents grew up in a time period where grinding was the only way to survive. Since I am lucky to have the opportunity to work hard on my own terms, I have been able to find ways to relax and recuperate. Some of my favorite things to do are read and listen to music as I find these activities very comforting. I re-read Harry Potter every year just for that sense of nostalgia. I also love watching shows like, “Only Murders in the Building” on Hulu. Playing with my four dogs is another way I am able to forget about the world for a minute.

Jane Kusuma is an illustrator and designer from Seattle and the one-woman team behind Jovietajane Creative Studio. As the Asian Mental Health Collective (AMHC) began to expand and rebrand, Jane Kusuma graciously reached out to our organization to donate her time and energy into designing the rebrand. Following the Black Lives Matter movement and the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes, Kusuma realized she wanted to donate her time, not just her money. Kusuma chose AMHC after finding our organization through Instagram. She mentions how “mental health is the last thing people think about and donate to” and how she was inspired by her own mental health struggles to donate her time for AMHC. Kusuma wanted to modernize and neutralize AMHC’s branding to make it accessible for all ages. She used soft, tranquil color palettes to create a calm and containing environment for everyone who wants to be a part of AMHC.

Jane Kusuma was born in Indonesia and discovered a love for drawing at an early age. At 14, she solidified her decision to pursue the arts and worked towards a career in graphic design. After getting her start in working for major toy companies like Hasbro and Mattel, she began to do freelance work on the side. Kusuma was then sponsored by a company and began working in a corporate setting. However, after a period of time, she began to suffer from burnout and realized her mental health was deteriorating. She took a 3-month sabbatical to reevaluate her life and realized she “would be so much happier doing freelance work.”She jokes about “being allergic to the 9-5 schedule” as her most creative hours are in the early morning and at night. Kusuma asserts how the ability to set her own timelines, choose her own clients, and experience different creative projects helps fuel her artistic nature.

When it comes to mental health, Jane Kusuma reflects on how she has struggled with anxiety and depression throughout her life. At 28, she started to recognize the importance of rest. She remarks, “My mental state will always affect my art. I used to think that if I was struggling I would make better art but that isn’t true.” Kusuma has since placed an emphasis on including joy in her art and making sure to take the time slow down and rest as needed.

Her final reflections include a message to those who want to pursue the creative arts. She asserts that there is no need to buy expensive equipment but rather, to “use the resources you already have.” She notes using online resources and platforms like Skillshare to learn and expand on one’s artistic abilities. Kusuma also believes that college isn’t necessary to those who want to pursue the arts as there are many other ways to learn.

In regards to Asian mental health, Jane Kusuma expresses the importance of speaking out and being open about mental health issues, in spite of being raised in cultures where silence and silencing is the norm, and where mental health is stigmatized. Kusuma acknowledges the difficulty of the times andand emphasizes the need, now more than ever, to care for ourselves.