AWFH Youth Mental Health Initiative

Supporting AANHPI young people to build community, strengthen mental health literacy, and create change.

Through peer leadership, education, storytelling, and community engagement, the AWFH Youth Mental Health Initiative (AYMHI) creates spaces for young people to explore mental health, connect through shared experiences, and become advocates for themselves and their communities.

AYMHI Peer Leadership Program

Virtual Information Session | Sept 2, 2026

Did you miss our AYMHI Peer Leadership Program (2026-2027) Virtual Info Session on 9/2?

No worries – you can view the recording here. Just hit play!

Mental health can be difficult to talk about, particularly when conversations about identity, culture, family, stigma, and belonging are part of the picture.

The AWFH Youth Mental Health Initiative (AYMHI) is a youth-centered program that creates opportunities for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) young people to learn about mental health, build community, develop leadership skills, and create change. Rather than approaching young people only as recipients of mental health education, AYMHI recognizes them as leaders, storytellers, advocates, and partners in shaping healthier communities.

Through workshops, peer learning, storytelling, community events, and the AYMHI Peer Leader Fellowship, participants explore mental health in ways that reflect their identities, cultures, relationships, and lived experiences.

Mental health is personal — and cultural.

Young people experience mental health within the context of their families, communities, cultures, identities, and environments.

For AANHPI youth and young adults, conversations about mental health can intersect with cultural expectations, stigma, intergenerational experiences, racism and discrimination, intersectional identities, academic and family pressures, and differing understandings of mental health and help-seeking.

These experiences aren’t universal, and there is no single “AANHPI mental health experience”. AYMHI creates room for that complexity.

We provide opportunities for young people to talk openly about mental health, learn from one another, build skills, and explore what well-being can look like for themselves and their communities.

Learn more about mental health in AANHPI communities →

Source: The Asian American Foundation – Beyond the Surface Report (2024)

Are you looking for someone to talk to?

AYMHI Peer Counseling offers a supportive, nonjudgmental space to talk with a trained peer about mental health, identity, relationships, stress, belonging, or whatever may be on your mind.

Here’s how it works:

1. Submit a Request. Complete a short form to tell us a little about yourself and what you’re looking for.
2. Complete a Brief Screening. Once the request form is submitted, someone from the AYMHI team will reach out to you to schedule a brief video call. This will grant you the opportunity to meet with someone our team to discuss your needs, ask questions, and determine whether peer counseling is a good fit.
3. Connect with a Peer Counselor. If everything looks good, you’ll be assigned to a trained AYMHI Peer Counselor based on needs, fit, and availability.

Ready to schedule your session?

Peer counseling sessions will reopen in September 2026.
Request Peer Counseling →

Have questions before booking? Contact the AYMHI Team →

The AYMHI Peer Leader Fellowship Program

Learn. Connect. Create. Lead.

The AYMHI Peer Leader Fellowship is a year-long leadership and learning experience for young people interested in mental health, identity, community, and social change.

Throughout the program year, Peer Leaders participate in interactive workshops, learn from guest speakers, and collaborate on creative and community-based projects. No prior experience in mental health or advocacy is required – just curiosity, openness, and a willingness to participate.

What Peer Leaders Do

• LEARN. Explore mental health, stigma, culture, identity, and health equity while developing practical skills in communication, advocacy, and suicide prevention.
• CONNECT. Build relationships with fellow Peer Leaders and engage with community organizations, advocates, and professionals.
• CREATE. Use storytelling, art, media, and other forms of creative expression to share perspectives and challenge mental health stigma.
• LEAD.  Help shape workshops, events, resources, and projects that reflect the experiences and priorities of young people.

Peer Leaders build confidence, strengthen leadership and collaboration skills, explore pathways in mental health and public health, and gain experience they can carry into school, work, advocacy, and community life.

Fellowship at a Glance

• Program Year: October 2026 – May 2027
• Format: Hybrid
• Time Commitment: Approximately 5-10 hours per month
• Stipend: $1,000

Applications for the 2026–2027 AYMHI Peer Leader Fellowship are open through September 23, 2026.

Our Impact

From peer-led workshops to creative projects and community events, AYMHI creates opportunities for young people to put what they learn into practice, share their perspectives, and bring conversations about mental health into the community.

During the 2025–2026 program year, AYMHI Peer Leaders turned learning into action through community events, peer engagement, and conversations about mental health and well-being.

Community Connections

AYMHI works alongside community organizations, healthcare providers, educational institutions, and public agencies to strengthen connections to culturally responsive and affirming mental health resources for LGBTQIA2S+ AANHPI youth. These collaborations help us create welcoming spaces, connect young people with resources and opportunities, and bring conversations about mental health, identity, and belonging into the broader community.

Some of our past and current community connections and partners include:

Interested in partnering with AYMHI? Connect With Us → 

AYMHI Peer Leaders help develop and curate culturally responsive resources informed by the experiences and needs of LGBTQIA2S+ AANHPI youth and their communities.

Explore resources on mental health, identity, relationships, peer support, healthcare, allyship, and more in the AWFH Resource Library.

Explore the Resource Library →