Dear friends,
Spring is in full swing, and as the cherry blossoms bloom and our landscapes turn green once again, this time of year conjures up feelings of renewal and hope for many of us. It’s also a time when I know one core aspect of my identity will be recognized and celebrated–and a time when, for better or worse, I’ll likely see more reminders than usual of my family’s journey.
In the United States, May has been recognized as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month since the 1990s, to celebrate the contributions that generations of people from these ethnic communities have made to American history, society, and culture.
My parents immigrated from Cambodia, spending years bouncing in and out of refugee camps during the Khmer Rouge and enduring unthinkable hardships. When they finally made their way to the United States, they were faced with the reality of raising a family with little education, no money, and no English fluency. They collected cans on the street in the early mornings to feed their children, siblings, and parents. They wore ill-fitting donated clothes and did everything they could to provide a comfortable American life for their children, while making sure we didn’t forget where our family came from. This ultimately took a heavy toll on my parents, leading to their divorce, and leaving my mother to care for six children alone.
When your parents would give you anything to grant you access to a better life, it’s easy to become consumed with pressure and clouded with their expectations. I wondered why I couldn’t seem to live up to those expectations. This pressure to fit into a mold creates a stressful burden for many children, and is often heightened for children of immigrants.
After a battle with depression, I dropped out of high school at age 16, earned my GED at Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), and eventually my college degree as well. In the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to lead DEI efforts at multiple Fortune 500 companies. While I can objectively see that I should be proud of my path, it’s hard not to fault myself for traveling a different path than the one my parents envisioned for me. They made their dangerous journey with visions of an ideal future for my siblings and me–perfect educational records, advanced degrees, marriage at an early age, and close relationships within our nuclear family. Of course, our lives have not stayed within that narrow vision, and I’m finally accepting that that might be ok.
Although my specific struggles might look different than yours, I’m not alone in my journey with mental health. More Americans than ever are facing mental health issues, and recent statistics show that 1 in 5 American adults experience a mental illness. And we’re finally starting to become more ok with talking about these struggles–to our family and friends, or within our team at work. This shift towards openness and vulnerability creates incredible opportunities for support and healing.
I recently joined CVS Health as Impact Coordinator for Corporate Social Responsibility & Philanthropy, and am thrilled with the steps the company takes to promote health and wellbeing, both for employees, and for the communities that we serve.
For Mental Health Awareness Month, CVS Health partnered with LinkedIn’s The Anxious Achiever podcast to create a special episode with Cara McNulty, President of Behavioral Health and Mental Well-being at CVS Health, that explores how to fight the stigma surrounding mental health. You can check out the episode here.
To improve mental health within the communities we serve, CVS Health also offers free, community-based mental health screenings through its Project Health, which aims to remove barriers to accessing mental health services for under-resourced communities. Learn more here.
Many DAIP board members work for companies that are doing exciting things in support of mental health, and we are always thrilled to learn from one another. Click here to learn about what Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island is doing to foster healthy mental health practices within their workplace and within their community. I hope you’ll find some inspiration to strengthen your own organization’s commitment to supporting mental health and employee wellness.
As always, we’re here to connect and strengthen our community of DEI-minded professionals. If there is a program or resource that you’d like us to offer, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here for you, and with you.
Yours in Equity,
