Jian “Lily” Chen is a PhD student in the UNC School of Nursing. She helps immigrant Chinese Americans and Karen refugees find mental health services in North Carolina.

Q: How did you discover your specific field of study?

A: Suicide is the leading cause of death in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth aged 15 to 24 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Of all ethnic groups, AAPI are the least likely to receive mental health services. Many of my friends and community members have experienced the tragic loss of our children, as well as their own mental health challenges. Yet, immigrant Chinese parents know little about mental health and where to seek help.

Q: Academics are problem-solvers. Describe a research challenge you’ve faced and how you overcame it.

A: While mental health stigma is a big cultural barrier to overcome, lack of funding and support for our community is startling. The National Institutes of Health allocated only 0.17% of funding to the AAPI community. Additionally, the available data is often outdated, and there is little evidence of education models that are culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate to serve our community and the shortage of AAPI providers.

I want to be part of the solution by learning research skills to help build evidence. I am doing this through the Royster fellowship and with support from Carolina nursing professor Cheryl Giscombe. We work with experienced researchers from Duke University and industry to help us build evidence, and we lead a variety of educational projects with community members.

Q: Describe your research in five words.

A: Breaking silences in mental health.

Q: Who or what inspires you? Why?

A: “For a better tomorrow” is my motto. I want to leave a better place for my five children and grandchildren and all the other children in the world. In a world with so much uncertainty and turmoil, we must remain hopeful for a better tomorrow. That is what keeps me going every morning.

Q: If you could pursue any other career, what would it be and why?

A: I grew up on the air force base where my father served in China, and I always wanted to be a pilot. I dreamed about flying airplanes, which seemed so liberating in Communist China, where many experienced political persecutions including my family.