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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Aisha, Youth Advocate from Asian American Student Advocacy Project (ASAP)
9:53:58
ยท
152 sec
Aisha, a junior at Bard High School Early College and youth advocate for ASAP's Mental Health Campaign, testified about the challenges faced by AAPI students in NYC public schools, particularly regarding mental health and cultural stereotypes. She emphasized the need for culturally responsive mental health services and systematic changes in schools to address these issues.
- Highlighted the impact of stereotypes and lack of representation on AAPI students' mental health
- Called for curriculum changes to include mental health education and smaller class sizes
- Advocated for continuous funding to hire more diverse social workers in schools
Aisha
9:53:58
Good evening.
9:53:59
First, I want to thank Chair Joseph and the rest of the council for allowing this conversation.
9:54:03
My name is Aisha and I am a junior at Bard High School Early College in Manhattan.
9:54:07
I'm a youth advocate at the Asian American Student Advocacy Project Mental Health Campaign.
9:54:12
From the first day of freshman year, I knew I'd never fit in.
9:54:16
The teachers never understood why I didn't comprehend the math concept sometimes.
9:54:20
My classmates never asked always asked me for help when I didn't even understand it.
9:54:25
I wondered why it was me that my classmates came to.
9:54:28
As a Pakistani student, it is hard for me to see myself in the school community.
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I question my belonging and existence.
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All of these negatively impact my mental health on a daily basis.
9:54:38
I know I am not the only one who has faced these stereotypes yet has had no one to talk to about it.
9:54:43
Over time, these stereotypes and expectations have reduced our individuality to a simple grade but we are more than just a number.
9:54:50
We have feelings, we have thoughts, we have emotions that deserve to be addressed and supported.
9:54:55
I want my school and all schools to prioritize students' mental health because mental health isn't just about diagnosis, it is part of our wellness.
9:55:05
Schools seem to have implicit biases when AAPI students are doing seemingly well or if students don't reach out themselves, then they don't need help.
9:55:13
However, as a student, how can I reach out if I feel like no one understands my concerns?
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How can I recognize my feelings and emotions when we never talk about it in school?
9:55:23
ASAP's mental health campaign aims to identify mental health needs and challenges faced by AAPI youth in New York City public high schools and to advocate for cultural humility and culturally responsive mental health services in schools.
9:55:37
This year, we aim to identify how the model minority myth and a lack of data impact AAPI students' well-being.
9:55:43
We want to see systematic changes in school.
9:55:46
Addressing and destigmatizing mental health have to be approached from different angles and holistically that address some of the root causes of the issue.
9:55:55
For example, a curriculum change that would include the teaching and learning of mental health as mental well-being in classes like health class.
9:56:02
This is not a mental health club where only a portion of the students would learn to understand mental health.
9:56:08
We would like the city to reduce class size and implement it.
9:56:12
Small class size would allow students to build connections more effectively and make it easier for teachers to understand and see students' individuality.
9:56:20
We need continuous funding to hire more diverse social workers and ensure that there are enough social workers per school to support all students.
9:56:29
Thank you.