East & South Asian
Asian students are a large and diverse part of CMU's student body and include international students from Asia and Asian American students with East Asian and South Asian heritage.
Research has demonstrated that Asian-identified students feel added pressure and stigmas when seeking mental health and academic support in the university setting, underscoring the lived experience of mental health disparity for Asians in the U.S. Without normalization and cultural-specific resources, Asian students sitting alone with distress can result in feelings of isolation, anxiety, disconnection, and difficulties taking pride in their cultural heritage and identities.
The goal of the resources below is to offer support to our Asian students in exploring the meanings of well-being that are consistent within their specific cultural context.
Related Student Organizations at CMU
- CMU ASA: ASA is the largest cultural student organization on campus and comprised of students interested in exploring Asian culture and participating in events throughout the school year.
- Chinese Student Association: CSA is dedicated to providing a second home and family-like environment for undergraduate students of Chinese heritage. They help new students transition through culture shock and settle into CMU and the Pittsburgh area.
- ARCC: ARCC (Awareness of Roots in Chinese Culture) is an undergraduate student organization at CMU which promotes Chinese culture throughout the university community and beyond.
- Taiwanese Student Association: TSA is an organization that brings cultural awareness, provides service to the community, and creates social events throughout the CMU community via cultural, philanthropic, and social events.
- CMU RAASTA: CMU Raasta is a dance team committed to promoting Indian culture.
- Mayur - South Asian Student Association - Mayur is a highly-active, non-profit organization that sponsors and organizes various social and cultural activities for students.
- IGSA - Indian Graduate Students' Association. The IGSA brings together diverse student interests and hosts cultural and social events like Bollywood DJ Night.
Clinical Directory & Mental Health Resources
- Asian Mental Health Collective: Mental health collective focusing on culturally specific barriers to care
- Asian American Therapist Directory: Directory of Asian/Asian American Therapist identified therapists in the U.S.
- Asian Canadian Therapist Directory: Therapist directory for Asian Community in Canada
- South Asian Sexual & Mental Health Alliance | SASMHA: SASMHA seeks to create a safe space for South Asian youth across the diaspora, focusing on adolescence to early adulthood. They offer virtual and in-person workshops, a resource hub, and a podcast.
- Desi LGBTQ+ Helpline: Ooffers free, confidential, culturally sensitive peer support, information and resources for LGBTQ+ South Asian individuals, families and friends around the globe
- Division on South Asian Americans: Mental health resources through the Asian American Psychological Association
- South Asian Mental Health Initiative & Network | SAMHIN: South Asian directory for the U.S. that includes resources and programs
- Inclusive Therapists: Therapy directory that includes socially just orientated therapists with various resources
- Subtle Asian Mental Health: Closed Facebook group that creates an inclusive Asian community
- South Asian Therapists: Directory for South Asian community
- Asian American Psychological Association: Mental health advocacy group focused on Asian Americans as well as center Asian American psychology
- Asians Do Therapy: Advocacy group that works to break down stigma and accessibility of mental health within the Asian community
- Asian Mental Health Project: Educates and empowers the Asian community through support and community events
- National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association: Social Justice oriented mental health group that focuses on NAAPIMH mental health which creates community spaces to discuss wellness within the community
- Project Lotus: Asian mental health project that focuses on community stories, voices and resources
Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Resources for Social Justice
- National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum: Resources that focus on Asian Pacific women and girls regarding reproductive rights, economic justice, immigrant rights and racial justice
- Asian American Advancing Justice: Civil rights group focusing on advancing justice for Americans
- Dear Asian Youth: Global initiative that focuses on intersectional activism for marginalized communities
- AAPI Women Lead: Asian American Pacific Islander self-identified women and girls working to build a movement through workshops and collective action/storytelling
- Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA): Resource for AAPI communities that intersect with the labor movement
- APALA Local Pittsburgh Facebook Page
- Southeast Asia Resource Action Center: National civil rights resource focused on Cambodian, Vietnamese, and Laotian Americans
- Aquarius: Pitt student organization for AAPI Queer students and allies