Project synopsis is to include the following (500w):
Premise
Dealing with mental illness is difficult when one’s community does not understand it. For many East Asian diaspora in Australia and New Zealand, cross-generational stigma, combined with cultural and linguistic barriers, creates challenges in recognising symptoms, seeking help, and navigating care. These obstacles can delay early intervention and exacerbate suffering.
Project Description
Second Mind: East Asian Voices in Mental Health will curate and publish 8–10 first-person narratives from East Asian diaspora members who have engaged with the mental health system in Australia and New Zealand. Stories will be collected through semi-structured interviews, transcribed, and co-edited with participants to ensure authenticity and respect.
The narratives will be presented on a publicly accessible website designed for young East Asian people experiencing early signs of mental illness or a first episode of care. The site will include contextual resources and links to existing services to help readers take practical next steps. An exemplar project is noted here: quietachievers.au.
Rationale and Fit with the Medical Humanities
The medical humanities humanise medicine by integrating narrative, culture, ethics, and lived experience into clinical understanding. Psychiatry, in particular, requires attention to the social alongside the biological and psychological. By presenting East Asian perspectives - often under-represented in medical education and public discourse - this project addresses how cultural context shapes experiences of illness and care.
Second Mind uniquely combines spoken narrative with digital art. By integrating audio stories with visually engaging web design, the project explores new forms of human-computer interaction while sensitively translating vulnerable experiences. Sharing stories restores dignity, challenges clinicians to reflect on systemic blind spots, and provides hope and relatability to peers navigating similar struggles. This combination extends the humanities beyond text, engaging audiences on emotional, cultural, and sensory levels.
Milestones