The Transcultural Wellness Center: Rehabilitation and Recovery in Asian and Pacific Islander Mental Health Care

ABSTRACT

Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs) are a diverse group, representing many cultures of origin, a range of immigration experiences, and varying access to economic and other resources. Despite stereotypes such as the “model minority” and cultural values that stigmatize mental illness and complicate mental health help-seeking, APIAs' psychiatric rehabilitation and recovery needs are significant. These needs are inadequately treated within existing systems of care. Passage of California's Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) in 2004 created the opportunity for Sacramento County to fund a full-service mental health clinic designed to meet the needs of the APIA community. The process by which this clinic, the Transcultural Wellness Center, was conceptualized, advocated for, and launched is described. This clinic is considered a best practice model within the MHSA system redesign effort.

KEYWORDS:

• Asian American
• bicultural
• bilingual
• cultural competence
• ethnic matching
• mental health services
• Pacific Islander

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebecca P. Cameron

Rebecca P. Cameron, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.

Hendry Ton

Hendry Ton, MD, MS, is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Director of Education at the Center for Reducing Health Disparities, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA and Medical Director, Transcultural Wellness Center, Sacramento, CA.

Cynthia Yang

Cynthia Yang, LCSW, is Clinical Director of the Transcultural Wellness Center, Sacramento, CA.

Marya C. Endriga

Marya C. Endriga, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at California State University, Sacramento, Sacramento, CA.

Mei-Fang Lan

Mei-Fang Lan, PhD, is Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.

Alan K. Koike

Alan K. Koike, MD, MSHS, is Associate Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA.