Providing Culturally Tailored Mental Health First Aid

BCNC Family Services partnered with the National Council for Mental Wellbeing to provide a culturally-tailored, Chinese translation of the Mental Health First Aid course. While Asians are the fastest-growing racial group in Massachusetts, access to mental health care is limited due to the lack of culturally appropriate resources for the Chinese-speaking community, as well as the cultural stigma associated with mental health. This partnership aimed to translate the course to Chinese so that more providers, parents and caregivers, and community members can have access to mental health first aid, to identify, understand and respond to mental health and substance-use issues.

Access to behavioral health care is an urgent need

photo: L.B Read photography

Boston Children’s Hospital CHNA and BCNC’s Quincy Community Survey, revealed behavioral health and access to care and services are two of the most pressing needs for the Quincy community. Thanks to funding from Boston Children’s Hospital’s Routh 128 Community Health Initiative program, BCNC developed the Mental Health First Aid Trainers Network for Chinese Speakers to enhance the impact of the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course, is piloting the instruction of the Chinese curriculum, and evaluating the effectiveness of the curriculum. We are committed to strengthening the mental wellbeing of Chinese-speaking immigrant families in Quincy and surrounding South Shore areas.

Breaking stigma and building understanding

kit yung, director of BCNC family services

Source: Mental Health First Aid

One of the major obstacles to seeking mental health care is the cultural stigma surrounding mental health challenges. By tailoring MHFA courses to specific communities, we aim to break these cultural barriers. With them, individuals within these communities have access to resources that not only acknowledge but also understand and address the cultural factors that may influence perceptions around mental health.

In our commitment to providing culturally tailored MHFA courses, our approach goes beyond simple translation.

Kit Yung, Director of Family Services at Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center (BCNC) and certified Adult MHFA Instructor helped develop MHFA for Chinese-speaking Communities. Yung said, “We wanted to avoid misinterpretation or misrepresentation of the original message in the courses for Chinese-speaking communities. We have carefully chosen words and phrases that are respectful and destigmatizing, aiming to create environments where individuals feel more comfortable discussing mental health openly.”

Cultural sensitivity is at the core of our approach. The training modules are designed to educate individuals on recognizing and responding to mental health or substance use challenges within their communities while being mindful of cultural differences. The courses emphasize the importance of respecting diverse perspectives and acknowledging that one size does not fit all when it comes to mental health support.