Palo Alto High School’s Associated Student Body hosted an Asian American youth mental health panel discussion on Tuesday night at the Performing Arts Center, inviting students, parents and community members to listen and participate. The panelists, who are prominent Asian American figures, shared their personal stories of mental health struggles growing up and advice they would give to the youth to stay mentally strong. The Paly Voice asked guests and organizers about their biggest takeaways from this event.

“Vulnerability is a strength. Hearing panelists talk about their personal stories and how seeking professional help has improved their lives actually encouraged me to share more about my own journey with mental health. One person speaking out can have a cascading effect, and that really stuck with me.” – Julian Hong, 12th grade, event host and ASB president
“I want all people to understand that you truly do not need to be the best all the time. All you need is one person to believe in you in order to help you feel empowered and succeed. All you need is one moment in time that could potentially change your life.” – Dion Lim, panelist, Asian American News Anchor and Reporter of ABC7/KGO-TV
“This event really helped show that it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to seek these resources and we have an incredible community who all want to support you.” – Greer Stone, Palo Alto mayor
“A lot of the things that the speakers said resonated with me because I’ve experienced it firsthand. It was really interesting to see the people around me are also facing the same issues. That really opened my eyes and showed me that I’m not alone in this.” – Will Stover, 11th grade
“Mental health is something that everyone deals with, and people shouldn’t feel isolated about it. I think it’s something everyone needs to be aware of, and it shouldn’t be something people face alone. Hearing the stories really made me feel more open to talking about mental health with my family, my kids and even myself.” – Pauline Ang, parent
“It’s okay to work hard, but make sure that the things you’re working hard at are things you care about and love because without passion, things can just kind of turn into stress. This event also made me want to speak up in my own community because by starting the conversation, we can end the stigma around mental health.” – Leilani Chen, 10th grade