Quick takeaway for organizations: Culturally relevant content can help reduce friction to day-to-day support—especially when it’s easy to find, easy to use, and available for stress and sleep in the moments employees need it.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the rich traditions and immeasurable contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders throughout our country’s history.
It’s also an opportunity for employers to address barriers to care that members of AAPI communities continue to face, including the mental health stigma that can make it difficult for people to seek help. Studies show that less than 9% of Asian Americans seek any type of mental health services or resources, compared to nearly 18% of the general population. Reducing barriers can be an important part of improving AAPI support and access to culturally relevant care.
Calm resources to support AAPI employees
To help support the mental well-being of AAPI employees and their families, we’ve curated a selection of Calm resources featuring Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander stories, narrators, authors, and mindfulness experts.
These resources are designed to help AAPI people discover and develop personal strategies for managing stress, anxiousness, sleep issues, and other mental health challenges before they escalate into more serious conditions. This approach supports Asian American mental health with accessible tools that can complement existing benefits.
Dailies
- Daily Move: I Am Enough, Movement
In this Daily Move, mindfulness coach Mel Mah helps you practice being grateful for yourself, your body and your life, because you’re already enough. Mel Mah has over 600 hours of teacher training, with certifications in Vinyasa and Hatha Yoga, and has been teaching since 2011. - Daily Jay: Supporting the World Starts Within, Wisdom
When the world is a scary place, practicing loving kindness toward ourselves is a powerful way to illuminate the darkness. Purpose coach and bestselling author Jay Shetty walks you through a 7-minute practice of self-compassion.
Sleep Stories
- A Day in Da Nang
Wander the beautiful beaches, majestic mountains, and neon night markets of this coastal city in Vietnam. The story is written by JH Yun, a Korean American writer, and narrated by Anthony Phan, a Vietnamese-American voiceover artist. - The Rainbow Fields
Explore the heritage of China’s Yunnan province where the colorful landscape matches the varied traditions. The story is authored by Christina Yang and narrated by actress Jessie Mei Li. - Camp Care Moose
Alright campers! Snuggle into your bunks for a story about the legendary Care Moose. This Sleep Story for kids is narrated by actor, filmmaker, and director Randall Park.
Kids’ Content
- See, Hear, Feel, Kids’ Meditation
If you have a case of the blahs, you’ve come to the right place! Discover new things around you with an adventure through your senses. The meditation is narrated by Emiko Susilo, a Hawaiian-born voice actor, writer, singer, dancer and gamelan musician.
Music
- Jay’s Mindful Morning Music
Start your day with Daily Jay, some deep breaths, and this collection of relaxing tracks from multiple artists, courtesy of Jay Shetty.
Going beyond this month of celebration
This May, take a moment to celebrate or learn about the contributions of AAPI people in the workplace, in your neighborhood, city, or society at large. Learning about the history, traditions, and contributions of AAPI individuals and communities can help dismantle harmful stereotypes and open ourselves to new perspectives. For organizations, pairing cultural learning with clear pathways to support can help normalize care-seeking and improve day-to-day engagement.
What this means for organizations:
- Reinforce confidentiality and psychological safety to encourage employees to seek help.
- Make culturally relevant content easy to discover (e.g., via benefits navigation, “start here” guidance, and manager communications).
- Offer multiple entry points for support (stress tools, sleep resources, and pathways to higher levels of care when needed).
FAQ: AAPI support and culturally relevant care
What does Asian American mental health support look like at work?
It often includes reducing barriers to access (time, navigation, stigma) and providing resources employees can use for stress and sleep, along with pathways to higher levels of care when appropriate.
What is AAPI support in a benefits context?
In practice, it can mean providing culturally relevant resources, improving awareness of what’s available, and making it easier for employees and families to find the right starting point for support.
What does culturally relevant care mean here?
It generally refers to support that reflects identity, lived experience, and cultural context, so resources feel more relatable and easier to engage with.
