COVID-19 Resource Hub

Last Updated: 09/12/2023

COVID-19 and

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COVID-19 and Mental Health

New! COVID-19 Impacts on Mental Health Podcast Series

A pale yellow background with blue, teal, and pink swirls in the top right and bottom left corners. A cartoon of a dark skinned woman wearing glasses and orange headphones is seated at a desk next to a plant in a basket. She holds a microphone and types on a computer. Above and across the top of the image are abstract pink radio waves above teal text COVID-19 Impacts on Mental Health Series.

This compelling podcast series features conversations with AAPCHO members and partners focused on the impacts of COVID-19 on mental health among community members, providers, and other health center workforce. We uncover powerful stories and insights that illuminate the challenges, strengths, and progress made to support mental health among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders.

Episode 1: The Power of Storytelling to Support Mental Health and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Read the episode transcript: bit.ly/47AEHvQ

Episode 2: How Health Centers Can Support Mental Health Providers through Burnout and Beyond

Read the episode transcript: bit.ly/3P7Lg1L

Episode 3: Belonging and Community: Mental Health Supports Beyond the Four Walls

Read the episode transcript: bit.ly/3OQo0nN

Episode 4: Navigating Collective Trauma and Community Healing with the Spirit of Aloha

Read the episode transcript: bit.ly/3sSk3HX

Overall Series Themes

Throughout this series, our guests revealed several recurring themes, experiences, and lessons learned that health centers can operationalize to support their workforce as well as the patients they serve. Across various episodes, we witness the importance of:

Collaborative Support: Reliance on a good support network (family, friends, co-workers, community, etc.) to promote mental health and well-being;

Collective Healing: Giving adequate space and time to heal and process grief by creating safe spaces to share stories and experiences as well as fostering resiliency, empathy, and connection amongst the community;

Culturally Tailored Care: Highlighting the value of multilingual and culturally responsive healthcare services and recognizing that diverse communities require individualized approaches to care;

Empowerment Through Boundaries: Finding balance in personal and work life to prevent burnout. The need for individuals to set boundaries, recognize the strength in sensitivity, and advocate for equitable working conditions;

Adequate Compensation for Emotional Labor: Compensating healthcare providers and other staff members for the added emotional labor of their work that is often left unpaid and unrecognized;

Pathways to Health Careers: Inspiring a new generation of passionate individuals to pursue a career in healthcare and making those pathways to enter the workforce more accessible by providing more entry-level opportunities and reducing structural and institutional disparities that make it harder for minoritized racial and ethnic groups to enter the mental health field; and

Recognizing Privilege: Acknowledging that mental health services are not always easily accessible and that there may be several barriers to seeking support. Addressing the social drivers of health should be the first step in meeting patients’ basic needs, as it sets the foundation for dismantling systemic obstacles and fostering a healthcare environment that prioritizes inclusivity, empowerment, and holistic well-being.

See full episode details and descriptions below.

View the other episodes in the series: https://soundcloud.com/user-207279422

Find alternate ways to access the episodes: https://bit.ly/CHERNResources

This series was brought to you by the COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases Health Equity Response Network (CHERN). The CHERN Initiative is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and was developed in partnership between AAPCHO and the Pacific Islander Center for Primary Care Excellence (PI-CopCE). To find out more, email us at training@aapcho.org.

Individual Episode Details and Descriptions

The Power of Storytelling to Support Mental Health and Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pale yellow background with blue, teal, and peach swirls in the corners. A cartoon man with light skin and black hair wearing blue coveralls and holding a black book sits in a folding chair below the episode title. Link to episode on soundcloud.

Read the episode transcript: bit.ly/47AEHvQ

See Meghna’s work: meghnabhat.com

Read Gulabi Stories: gulabistories.com

This episode features Meghna Bhat, PhD, an independent gender and social justice consultant, prevention educator, interdisciplinary scholar, and storyteller. Meghna is a first-generation South Asian immigrant who uses storytelling to create safe and inclusive spaces to address complex topics of taboo, build empathy, and strengthen intergenerational relationships. Meghna shares some of her own personal experiences of how COVID-19 impacted her mental health as well as some strategies for connection and resilience. Some key takeaways include:

  • Importance of holding space for collective grief in both individual and community settings;
  • Being highly sensitive is seen as a strength and superpower that enables empathy and connection but it also encourages individuals to protect themselves through boundaries;
  • From an individual and organizational standpoint, we need to work towards dismantling toxic work culture through persistent advocacy, equitable pay for work that involves additional emotional labor, and providing a flexible work-life schedule; and
  • This episode was recorded on July 20, 2023 as part of the COVID-19 and Other Infectious Diseases Health Equity Response Network (CHERN) COVID-19 Impacts on Mental Health Series.

This episode was recorded on Thursday, July 20, 2023.

How Health Centers Can Support Mental Health Providers Through Burnout and Beyond

Pale yellow background with blue, teal, and peach swirls in the corners. Two cartoon doctors stand next to one another facing the episode title. Link to episode on soundcloud.

Read the episode transcript: bit.ly/3P7Lg1L

This episode features a behavioral health nurse practitioner who serves Asian American patients at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). She discusses her experience navigating the ever-evolving healthcare system and sheds light on the major burnout she and many other mental health providers faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also discusses strategies for coping with burnout and shares recommendations for how health centers can better support and retain their mental health workforce. Some key takeaways include:

  • The nationwide shortage of mental healthcare providers has contributed to significant burnout among many current physicians and providers.
  • To attract quality clinicians who are passionate about their work, health centers must provide competitive compensation, flexible work structures, and adequate support.
  • Recognize and compensate for the additional effort and value of providing care in different languages.

This episode was recorded on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Belonging and Community: Mental Health Supports Beyond the Four Walls

Pale yellow background with blue, teal, and peach swirls in the corners. Five cartoon people with light skin and black hair sit on a couch below the episode title. One person sits in the middle with their arms crossed and the other four sit around them all touching them with their hands as if comforting them. Link to episode on soundcloud.

Read the episode transcript: bit.ly/3OQo0nN 

Visit North East Medical Services: nems.org

This episode features Fan Li, LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Lily Lu, a Behavioral Health Linkage Worker, from the Behavioral Health Department at North East Medical Services (NEMS). Fan and Lily bring a strength and solution-focused approach to our discussion on the evolving landscape of mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. They emphasize the importance of providing holistic care to the populations they serve and increasing psychosocial education within the community to destigmatize and promote awareness of mental health. More key takeaways include:

  • Bilingual healthcare providers bridge the language gap for patients who are monolingual or have limited English proficiency. 
  • Hiring staff who are culturally and linguistically representative of the population they serve creates a safe space for individuals who may otherwise be hesitant to utilize behavioral health services or seek support. 
  • Collaborative teamwork across the mental health workforce supports retention of staff, improves patient experiences, and ensures quality care.

This episode was recorded on Wednesday, August 2, 2023.

Navigating Collective Trauma and Community Healing with the Spirit of Aloha

Pale yellow background with blue, teal, and peach swirls in the corners. Six cartoon people interacting in different pairs below the title of the episode in teal font. Link to episode on soundcloud.

Read the episode transcript: bit.ly/3sSk3HX

Visit Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center: www.wcchc.com/

View the in-language graphic from the episode: bit.ly/48fy5DM

This episode features Lahela-keao-oka-lani ‘Lahela’ Pimental, Associate Director of Clinical Operations and Jacob Schafer, Director of Infection Control and Employee Health at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center (WCCHC). Jacob and Lahela discuss their experiences overseeing the services and care for both patient populations and health center workforce throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They discuss the power of community and share inspiring stories of support, resilience, and healing – emphasizing the beauty of the Aloha Spirit. More key takeaways include:

  • Communication between leadership and the workforce allows for a more positive and supportive work environment.
  • Health centers must prioritize staff mental health and physical well-being, as they serve and are valued members of the community. 
  • The importance of community and connection to foster unity and collective strength.

This episode was recorded on August 15, 2023.

Further Mental Health Resources for AA and NH/PI Populations

Support to Address Workforce Burnout

Resources for End of the Public Health Emergency

Recent Updates Regarding the Public Health Emergency:

Previous Resources for the End of the Public Health Emergency:

If you have questions, would you like to contribute resources to this page, and/or require technical assistance, please email preparedness@aapcho.org.

Recent News and Updates to the COVID-19 Vaccines:

Federal and National Resources for COVID-19 Vaccines:

Recent News and Updates to the COVID-19 Testing:

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Visit the National COVID-19 Resiliency Network or call Multilingual helpline: (877) 904-5097

AAPCHO is a Strategic Partner of Morehouse School of Medicine’s National COVID-19 Resiliency Network (NCRN) where you can get zipcode-based recommendations on where to find COVID-19 tests, vaccines, transportation, food, and find local organizations for other support.


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AAPCHO encourages all health centers to visit the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse to access compiled resources on COVID-19 from 20 National Cooperative Agreement organizations and partners.


Archived Emergency COVID-19 Response Resources

AAPCHO Member COVID-19 Resources by Region

Hawai’i

Community Clinic of Hawaii (Wailuku, HI)

Hawaii Primary Care Association (HI)

Kalihi-Palama Health Center (Honolulu, HI)

Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services (Honolulu, HI)

Lana’i Community Health Center (Lanai City, HI)

The Bay Clinic (Hilo, HI)

Waianae District Comprehensive Health Center (Waianae, HI)

Waimanalo Health Center (Waimanalo, HI)

West Hawaii Community Health Center (Kailua Kona, HI)

AlohaCare (HI)

Midwest

Asian Human Services (Chicago, IL)

Asian Services in Action (Akron, OH)

Northeast

Charles B. Wang Community Health Center (New York, NY)

Family Health Center of Worcester (Worcester, MA)

Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell, MA)

South Cove Community Health Center (Boston, MA)

Sunset Park Health Council (Brooklyn, NY)

Northwest

Asian Americans for Community Involvement (San Jose, CA)

Asian Health Services (Oakland, CA)

Bay Area Community Health (Fremont, CA)

Community Medical Wellness Centers USA (Long Beach, CA)

International Community Health Services (Seattle, WA)

Northeast Medical Services (San Francisco, CA)

Operation Samahan (National City, CA)

Pasifika

Chuuk State Department of Health Services (Chuuk, FM)

Kagman Community Health Centre (Saipan, MP)

Kosrae Department of Health Services (Kosrae, FM)

Ebeye Community Health Center (Ebeye, MI)

Chuuk Community Health Center (Chuuk, FM)

Southeast

Center for Pan Asian Community Services (Atlanta, GA)

MQVN Community Development Corp (New Orleans, LA)

Southwest

Asian American Health Coalition (Houston, TX)

Asian Pacific Community in Action (Phoenix, AZ)

COVID-19 Vaccines:

In-Language and Community-Led COVID-19 Vaccine Resources:

Federal and National Resources for Vaccines:

Federal Resources for Health Centers

Infection Prevention and Control Resources

AAPCHO acknowledges the increasing levels of stigma, racism, and xenophobia toward AA and NH/PI communities as a result of COVID-19. We encourage community health center providers, community-based organizations, educators, and the general public to combat this stigma by addressing misinformation and practicing cultural humility.

AAPCHO is proud to partner and is part of the Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team to provide culturally competent and in-language resources and materials for those disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Additional translated materials are available in the COVID-19 Vaccine section.

The Pacific Islander COVID-19 Response Team is a national group of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) researchers, health experts, community leaders and advocates who have come together to inform and support families and communities about COVID-19. Resources available here »

Local and County Translated Materials


Children Are My Community’s Future is designed for vaccine hesitant immigrant, refugee, and migrant fathers. It is available in 14 languages.

Children Keep Our Community Strong is designed for vaccine hesitant immigrant, refugee, and migrant mothers. It is available in 14 languages.

Cultural Humility Resources

Cultural humility is a respectful approach toward individuals of other cultures that continuously pushes one to challenge cultural biases (CHCS, 2017).

Healthy Equity Resources