VOLUME 6 | ISSUE 5

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, AANHPI Heritage Month, and AANHPI Mental Health Day on May 10, SAPHA continues to raise awareness about the unique mental health challenges facing South Asian American communities. Research suggests that 1 in 5 U.S. South Asians experience a mood or anxiety disorder in their lifetime, yet stigma, discrimination, language barriers, and limited access to culturally responsive care continue to prevent many individuals from seeking support. Maternal mental health also remains an important and often overlooked issue, with many South Asian women and birthing parents experiencing postpartum depression, anxiety, isolation, and pressure to remain silent due to cultural expectations and stigma. Addressing mental health in our communities requires culturally grounded education, open conversations, and trusted resources that reflect the diversity of South Asian experiences. To learn more, explore SAPHA’s mental health facts, community resources, and Combatting Mental Health Misinformation Toolkit on our website.

Our Response to Recent Shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego

SAPHA has released a statement in response to the recent shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, reaffirming our solidarity with impacted communities and recognizing the public health impacts of Islamophobia, hate, and violence.

🗣️ICYMI: Advocacy Workshop Recap

Breaking the Myths: Addressing Birth Control Misinformation in South Asian Communities

On April 23, 2026, the South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA) Advocacy Committee hosted “Breaking the Myths: Addressing Birth Control Misinformation in South Asian Communities,” a virtual advocacy workshop featuring insights from Sohni Pathan, DO, PGY2 OB/GYN. Public health professionals, students, healthcare providers, and community members came together to explore how misinformation about birth control shapes reproductive health decisions in South Asian communities.

Watch the full workshop here.

SAPHA's Policy Statements

SAPHA recently launched three policy statements outlining SAPHA’s commitment to addressing the social determinants of health, cardiovascular health, and mental health that impact South Asian American communities. Check out each of the three statements on our website.

Social Determinants of Health

Cardiovascular Health

Mental Health

The Fight for Birthright Citizenship Protection Continues

SAAPRI (South Asian American Policy & Research Institute) recently published an update on the ongoing legal battles of birthright citizenship in the US. They reported, “South Asians in the U.S. are largely immigrant-origin, with many families including noncitizen parents on temporary visas and U.S.-born children who receive citizenship under the 14th Amendment.” South Asian American Justice Collaborative (SAAJCO) recently submitted an amicus briefing emphasizing the importance of preserving and defending birthright citizenship in the US. Read the full briefing here.

This month, we are featuring South Asian HER, a women’s health education initiative launched in November 2025. South Asian HER aims to increase awareness around the ways overall health (including chronic disease risk and mental health) uniquely take shape for South Asian women by bridging the gap between research, lived experience and real-world habits. Drs. Raja and Nathan work to empower South Asian women with practical plans that fit the context of South Asian food, families, stressors, and responsibilities while building a community where they feel seen, informed and supported. Stay tuned for more on South Asian HER as we will be having both Dr. Raja and Dr. Nathan on our next SAPHA podcast episode as well as part of our International Women’s Health Day collaboration post (May 28th) focusing on the implications of the recent renaming of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) to polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS).

Click to Access the PMOS Fact Sheet

Follow South Asian HER on Instagram & Linkedin.

Research Highlights & News

Mental Health Among South Asians: Social vs. Traditional Media

Supported by a grant from National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), SAPHA’s poster presentation explored current attitudes and perceptions toward mental health among South Asians across both social (Twitter) and traditional media (South Asian movies which centralized mental health as the primary topic), as authors were interested in examining the potential downstream effects on youth. Additionally, the team examined the presence and types of mental health misinformation to better understand emerging themes and sources of misinformation. The poster was presented at the 2026 Society of Behavioral Medicine Annual Conference in April by SAPHA Research Committee member, Sushraya Jay.

Upcoming Events

June 7th: And the Ancestors Sing

The Center for Asian Health at RWJ Barnabas Health is hosting a book discussion “And the Ancestors Sing” as part of their Wellness Day event June 7th. They will be discussing themes of intergenerational experiences, emotional resilience, caregiving, and community healing. Check out the flyer below to learn more about the event.

Surveys & Voluntary Study Participation

Trauma Responses in SA Populations

Ateka Contractor, Ph.D. and the University of North Texas are examining how South Asian Americans experience and respond to trauma. For this study, individuals who identify as South Asians, currently reside in the US, and have experienced traumatic events in their lifetime may be eligible for the study. This study has monetary compensation. See the flyer for details and eligibility.

Social Engagement & Older Adults



The Aging, Caregiving and Technology Lab of the University of Illinois is recruiting participants to develop a social engagement intervention for older (age 60+) South Asian (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi) caregivers of older relatives with dementia, cancer or stroke. See the flyer for details and eligibility or email hk-actlab@illinois.edu.

Are you recruiting participants for a study or interested in having your recent publication featured in our newsletter? We’d love to help amplify your work.

To be considered, please email saphaboard@gmail.com with the following:

• Study recruitment: Submit flyers in .png format
• Publications: Include a link to the full publication



We look forward to supporting and sharing your research with our community.

Healing in Community: Supporting Mental Health Together

This May, SAPHA is centering mental health—an issue that deeply impacts our communities yet is too often silenced. From stigma to lack of access, many South Asians face barriers to seeking the care and support they deserve.

Your donation empowers SAPHA to advocate for safe spaces for dialogue, expand mental health resources, and uplift culturally competent care. Together, we can normalize these conversations and ensure no one feels alone in their journey.

Support our work this Mental Health Awareness Month and help us foster healing, understanding, and resilience across our communities.

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