About Us
The mission of NAAPIMHA is to promote the mental health and well being of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
What We Believe and What We Do
NAAPIMHA firmly believes in the following social justice issues:
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Suicide prevention among youth
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Empowering mental health consumers
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Access to high quality affordable mental health services for all
NAAPIMHA believes that these public policies and social justice issues have direct correlation with mental health. Without equality and justice in our healthcare, immigration, education, and social systems there will be no peace in people’s heart and mind.
We accomplish our goals by...
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Working closely with consumers such as developing a statewide consumer network in California
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Working closely with community-based organizations that address mental health and health related issues
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Advocating public policy that will improve quality service including the “Ten Guiding Principles of Recovery”
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Providing technical assistance and training to service providers such as cultural competency training, interpreter training, and clinical training
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Developing mental health fact sheets in languages such as Hmong, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Thai, and Vietnamese
Who We Are
DJ Ida, Ph.D.
Executive Director, Whole Health Trainer
Dr. D.J. Ida has over thirty years experience working with the Asian American/Pacific Islander communities. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Colorado and has played an active role in establishing various organizations including the Asian American Educational Opportunity Program on the Boulder campus of CU; the Asian Pacific Development Center, a specialty mental health clinic in Denver; the National Asian American, Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, NAAPIMHA, of which she now serves as Executive Director and the National Alliance of Multi-ethnic Behavioral Health Associations in Baltimore, MD. She is a strong advocate for a whole health approach to care that recognizes the critical nature of addressing one’s mental and physical health as well as other factors impacting the overall quality of care for Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities.
JR Kuo
Program Director, Whole Health Trainer
JR Kuo is a professional speaker, trainer, and coach. He is specialized in mental health, diversity and inclusion, and business development. JR has over 10 years of experience in public speaker and has trained students, faculties, and staff at over 40 universities and conferences across the United States, including Harvard University, Stanford University, and Vanderbilt University. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and Regis University, teaching leadership, cultural competency, and mental health. He is also a Mental Health First Aid instructor. In additional to professional speakers, JR has 10 years of experience managing and running nonprofit organizations and small businesses. He also provides corporate training that focuses on leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and mental health in the workplace.