Dr. Pata Suyemoto is a feminist scholar and mental health activist with a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, specializing in anti-racist education. She serves as the training director for the National Asian American Mental Health Association (NAAPIMHA) and leads the National Asian American Pacific Islander Empowerment Network. She is also the associate director of equity for the Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention (MCSP) and co-chairs its Alliance for Equity.

Dr. Suyemoto has co-authored "Widening the Lens: Exploring the Role of Social Justice in Suicide Prevention—A Racial Equity Toolkit" and shares her personal experiences as a suicide attempt survivor. She co-founded The Breaking Silences Project to address mental health issues among Asian American young women. Active on various boards, including the MCSP’s Executive Committee, she is also an avid bicyclist, having cycled across the country in 2012.

In our interview, Dr. Suyemoto shared her powerful journey. She discussed her dedication to mental health advocacy within the Asian American community, driven by her own experiences with chronic depression and PTSD, and surviving a suicide attempt at 16. Dr. Suyemoto emphasized the importance of openly discussing mental health to combat stigma, promoting self-care, and balancing body, mind, and spirit for overall wellness.


#Mentalhealth #Asianamerican #Identityunveiled #Mentalhealthawareness #Asianheritagemonth #Anxiety #Depression #MentalIllness #Stigma #Suicideprevention #Mentalhealthmatters #AAPI#AAPIhealth #Asianwomen #Breakingsilences #Socialjustice #Wellness #Communitysupport #Selfcare #Culturalhumility