Organizing the largest collegiate pan-Asian mental health conference: In-Between

Written by: Reeya Joseph

The Need for Dialogue:
Why Discussing the 'In-Between' Matters for Asian American Mental Health

Asians often find themselves in the “in-between”, a constant tug of war between competing cultural and personal identities that pull them in different directions. Coupled with the cultural stigma against mental wellness, this intersectionality places pressure to conform to different responsibilities, creating a sense of uncertainty and stress. This is why it is so crucial to create a platform where we can address these mental health challenges, unpacking our cultural identities and expectations to promote healing and support. 

My name is Reeya Joseph, and I was co-president of In-Between, a pan-Asian mental health group at Washington University in St. Louis. In-Between is comprised of WashU students dedicated to promoting conversations in the Asian diaspora around Asian mental health. Through our work on campus and in the greater community, In-Between is focused on creating dialogue and bi-directional learning experiences between individuals in a cross-cultural conversation to help spread awareness and combat stigma around mental health. 

As co-president of In-Between, I was tasked with managing the development of our largest event: a pan-Asian mental health conference held every year in the spring. The conference is meant to be a community wide event building connections and conversations with not only our own WashU students but also the greater St. Louis community and beyond. Our vision is to shed light on the struggles that Asians face when pursuing mental healthcare and how our various cultures can impact our mental health journey. 

A Collective Effort: Establishing Partnerships for 'In-Between' Panelists to Advance Collegiate Mental Health

We typically host a set of panels and workshops on a number of different topics as part of our annual keynote conference. Our panels encompass the grand complexity of Asian mental health, ranging from barriers to mental health access to representation and queerness. On the other hand, our workshops are aimed to be more niche and interactive, including healing our inner critic in an artistic expression, how to talk about your mental health as an Asian young adult, and South Asian trauma. 

I had a wonderful time sitting in on these panels, and in particular, I enjoyed the allyship panel where we brought in student speakers who are leaders of their own cultural groups on campus. This was an amazing conversation about how we can all connect as minorities and come to an understanding of each other's mental health journeys. I thought it was a great way for students on campus to be equipped with the tools and knowledge about how we can support one another through various campus events held each year. 

Similarly, another panel that was chock-full of practical tips was about Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling. I was struck by Michelle Li’s story of creating the Very Asian Foundation after she received a racist voicemail criticizing her for sharing on TV about how she ate rice cake soup (Duk Guk) as a Korean American for New Years. The panel also featured Dr. Amynah Pradhan and Angel Wang from Anise Health, who discussed the need for Asian representation among executives across industries, such as STEM and politics.

The workshop on how to talk about mental health as an Asian was also extremely insightful, providing strategies for navigating cultural nuances. I got to hear from other attendees about their struggles speaking out on their mental health, and our host, a member of the National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, educated us on tools and cognitive tasks to help us prepare and break down the stigma.

The last workshop about South Asian trauma was especially interesting given that it delved deep into the rich history around the Indian partition and how those warring times have impacted us to this day. I really gained a deeper understanding of my own heritage, culture, and history and could see the implications of those times passed down into my own family.

How our Planning Process took the Student Conference to a Whole New Level

Planning the conference with my co-president and the In-Between team was such a rewarding experience. I had been a part of the conference committee for the past two years, but this was the first year that I got a chance to be co-president and lead the whole team. My co-president and I had a vision to make this year's conference more impactful than years past, and so we made large efforts to expand our budgeting and outreach. 

In particular, when selecting topics for our conference, there was plenty of thought put into representation and fresh perspectives. We had to find a good balance between new and old topics. Conversations on intergenerational trauma and queerness have been hosted in the past, but these ideas warrant revisiting due to their depth and ongoing relevance. We also looked to the student body to help us decide. Since our conference is focused on college mental health, we want to ensure that the student body has input into our decisions to give them the kinds of discussions that are beneficial, valuable, and relevant. 

Deciding the topics is certainly the most fun part of the planning, but it can also be the most stressful portion of it. Our topics are partially restricted by the types of speakers that agree to join our conference, and so we have to diligently place speakers according to their preferred topics and expertise. It can be hard communicating with up to 30 different speakers at once and trying to accommodate them on our busy college schedules. 

Regardless of the struggles that come with it, the team and I find great honor and excitement seeing the conference come together on the day of. It truly feels magical meeting with speakers, connecting with attendees, and gaining valuable knowledge about Asian mental health. Seeing all of my semesterly long work come together is truly surreal and imbues me with the vigor to do it all over again the next year. 

Reflecting Back and Looking Ahead: Advice for Other Student Organizers and Campus Leaders

If anyone else wants to host their own mental health conference, I truly hope that my experiences shed light and inspire others to make further strides in pan-Asian mental health initiatives. Some key takeaways that I learned from this experience was to have an open mind. Although I had some elements that I wanted to include in the conference, I was definitely influenced by my fellow peers, the speakers, and the student body in a number of my decisions. Remind yourself of your intentions and your purpose: it is for the Asian community. Therefore, it is key to listen to your audience, asking them about their needs because no one else will. 

Another takeaway is to surround yourself with a dedicated team. My co-president and I were so lucky to have such motivated team members who wanted to see the conference shine. Having a team that is willing to make the conference their own and nurture it into something beautiful is a wonderful way to not only make a lasting impact but also have less stress yourself! 

Finally, I encourage others to embrace the experience and community that grows along the way. I am so grateful to have been able to connect with so many different people. I got a chance to bond with my team, some people that I had only met that year but have become lifelong friends and reliable support systems. Additionally, meeting our various speakers has broadened my horizons even further, expanding my knowledge far past my campus and education. Even when engaging with our attendees, I was able to build new relationships with peers and faculty, further strengthening my community. 

In-Between has been a wonderful experience, and I am so grateful for the time I got to spend with this group. Mental health has always been a passion of mine, and seeing my passion transform into action invigorates me further to continue to spread mental health awareness. 

I would be more than happy to connect (j.reeya@wustl.edu) and please explore our Instagram page (@inbetweenwashu) if you would like to learn more!