By Malisamai Vue

On June 5th, 2010, Hmong-American Partnership released an album titled Kaj Siab: Songs for Mental Health Awareness. It is a compilation CD featuring Hmong-Minnesotan musical artists produced in order to raise awareness about mental illness and to promote mental health well being in the Hmong community. The Minnesota Department of Health’s Offices of Minority and Multicultural Health funded this public campaign through a grant from the "Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (EHDI)." Hmong-American Partnership is a grantee of EHDI. On the Hamline University campus in St. Paul, Minnesota, the release party brought together local artists for an intimate performance of their collaborated work.

According to the World Health Organization, mental health is the foundation for the well being and effective functioning of individuals. It is more than the presence of a mental disorder. Mental health is the ability to think and learn as well as the ability to understand and live with one's emotions and the reactions of others. It is a state of balance within a person and between a person and their environment. Physical, psychological, social, cultural, spiritual and other interrelated factors participate in producing this balance.

Collaborating with Hmong-Minnesotan musical artists and professionals resulted in the opportunity of using the Hmong community’s resources to address and bring about the change needed within this community on this issue. The Kaj Siab musical project was made possible by the coordination of Pa Chia Vue and Sai Vang, who collaborated with established artist and community organizer, Tou Saiko Lee, as well as mental health professional Alyssa Kaying Vang, PsyD.,L.P.

Dr. Vang and Tou Saiko Lee emceed the event, provided resources, and shared personal stories of how the issue of mental health illness came into their lives. Passionate about her work, Dr. Vang reminds all of us that, “mental illness can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, gender, social status, or ethnicity.”

In addition to their performances, each artist shared a brief story of either how mental health illnesses have affected them or if they have personally known someone who has suffered from it. The raw connection between the artists and the audience coming together to address an issue in order to build community engagement and improve the well being of everyone in our communities is what made this event a success. Everyone that attended the event received a free CD of the project. For those who could not make it, the songs can be downloaded for free at www.hmong.org.

Across the country, the taboo of mental health illness is fading but still mental health illness is misunderstood and often times ignored. However, many improvements have been made with recognizing mental illness. In the Hmong community, discussions regarding mental health illness are still considered a cultural taboo. “Mental health concerns everyone and mental health illness can be treatable with a variety of settings including clinical care, self-help groups, social services and, of course, through counseling and psychotherapy,” says Dr. Alyssa Vang.

“Mental illness is part of the human experience. We cannot escape it, but if we find ways to deal with it we can live a healthy life. Mental health illness is nothing to be ashamed of,” adds Tou Saiko Lee.

The most important and best relationship we can have is the one that we have with ourselves. It is only when our minds our healthy that we can then lead happy, healthy, and productive lives.