Our Mission

Uplifting Minds is dedicated to transforming mental health care for South Asian youth by bridging the gap between students, parents, and mental health professionals. We recognize the unique challenges faced by young South Asian students, who experience disproportionate rates of depression and suicide due to cultural stigma, academic pressures, and traditional expectations. In the South Asian community, mental health remains locked away in institutions and spoken about in whispers, if at all, creating dangerous barriers that prevent young people from seeking help before it is too late.

Our mission is to break down these barriers through specialized cultural competency training that empowers therapists, educators, and healthcare providers with deep cultural insights while simultaneously fostering open dialogue between generations. We partner with healthcare providers, academic institutions, and corporations across Michigan to develop comprehensive training programs that help professionals understand South Asian cultural dynamics and facilitate honest conversations between parents and children about mental health.

Our work includes facilitating workshops on cultural expectations and intergenerational communication, developing evidence-based resources for therapeutic settings, creating professional development programs that equip providers to mediate family conversations, and supporting research initiatives focused on improving mental health outcomes in South Asian youth. Through education, advocacy, and partnerships, Uplifting Minds is committed to creating safe spaces where young people feel empowered to seek help from both their parents and professionals, ensuring that every student in our community has access to culturally competent support and the tools they need to thrive.