March 17, 2021
The ugliness and violence of racism is showing its face again.
Recently, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the country have been the victims of hate and ignorance. With racially-motivated scapegoating in response to fears about Covid-19, the past year has seen an appalling rise in anti-Asian violence and discrimination, starting from the highest levels of government.
NAMI Seattle stands in solidarity with our Asian American and Pacific Islander community who are facing discrimination, assault, and trauma at the hands of racists. We are asking Governor Jay Inslee and Mayor Jenny Durkan to repudiate the crimes, assaults, and abuses that have been happening in our community. We are asking Attorney General Bob Ferguson to investigate any and all hate crimes against members of our community.
At NAMI Seattle, we believe our collective mental health is strengthened by our shared humanity, and we know the deep wounds that racial trauma can inflict. We will continue to offer support to all members of our community and call for others to do the same.
If you have been affected by recent incidents of discrimination or violence, here are some groups you can reach out to for support:
- API Chaya, a Seattle-based organization that works to educate and mobilize South Asian, Asian, Pacific Islander, and all immigrant communities to create a world where all people can heal and thrive. Services include a confidential helpline, support groups, and resource referrals (mental health, housing, legal).
- Asian Counseling & Referral Service, another Seattle organization offering community-based multilingual and multicultural services for Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and other communities.
- Asian Mental Health Collective, an international network offering a variety of online resources to connect with others in the Asian community around issues of mental health.
- More local and online resources may be found on NAMI Seattle’s list of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Mental Health Resources.
We are in this together.
In solidarity,
Muguette and the NAMI Seattle Team.