The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (LACDMH) marked the first year of its "Tea Time" initiative yesterday, a program aimed at providing mental health support to the AAPI community, particularly older adults, in Monterey Park. The gathering, which takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, has seen its attendance surge by a notable 260% from its inception in February 2023, boasting an average of 180 daily participants by December.
Started as a response to the tragedy of the Lunar New Year mass shooting in Monterey Park that left 11 dead and nine injured last year, Tea Time has swiftly transformed into a space for breaking down mental health stigma and fostering healing. According to a statement obtained by LACDMH's official release, the program also referred over 160 people to further mental health services.
By having casual conversations over green tea and snacks, LACDMH staff aim "to offer hope and healing," said Dr. Lisa H. Wong, LACDMH Director, in a statement. They have created "a safe and familiar space where anyone can meet and talk without judgment or fear," she added. This approach has been especially useful in serving the diverse communities within Los Angeles County, acknowledging the unique needs of its residents.
Ryan Nam, a clerk with the East San Gabriel Valley Mental Health Center who has been with Tea Time from the start, told LACDMH, "Many older adults in the AAPI community have a stigmatized view of mental health." To combat this, the program centers discussions around the significance of mental well-being, tying it to feelings of the heart such as depression, sleeplessness, or loneliness. Through efforts like these, significant strides have been made, Nam noted.
Additionally, Nam and his partner, Community Health Worker Trung Du, have been successfully able to quickly connect by speaking in the various native languages of the community they serve — Mandarin, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and English being among them.
LACDMH promises to continue offering Tea Time throughout 2024 in Monterey Park and anticipates the introduction of similar programs in other communities across Los Angeles County. Those interested in participating in Tea Time can reach out to the East San Gabriel Valley LACDMH office in Covina or the Langley Senior Center for more information.
