Supporting Chinese American teens and their parents to seek mental health care
Official title: Empowering Chinese American Adolescents and Parents for Mental Health Help-Seeking
Funded at City College of New York · NIH-11323626 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project tests an online, culturally tailored program to reduce stigma and help Chinese American adolescents and their parents get mental health care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | City College of New York NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 23, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $262,975 |
| NIH project number | 5U54MD017979-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323626 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Chinese American adolescents (typically early- to mid-teens) who screen positive for affective disorders and their parents, especially families willing to try an online support program, are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without reliable internet access, those who do not identify as Chinese American, or adolescents in immediate psychiatric crisis needing urgent in-person care may not benefit from this online pilot.
What this research studies
The team will adapt proven mental health approaches into an online program designed specifically for Chinese American adolescents and their parents. They will pilot the program with families whose teens screen positive for mood or affective problems and compare it to a group that receives standard service referrals. Researchers will track whether teens start and continue using mental health services and measure changes in stigma and attitudes. The study will also interview participants and program facilitators to learn about acceptability and real-world experiences.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help more Chinese American adolescents and their parents overcome stigma and begin and maintain timely mental health care.
How similar studies have gone: Online anti-stigma and help-seeking programs have shown promise in other populations, but culturally tailored interventions for Chinese American teens are relatively new and less well tested.
Where this research is happening
-
City College of New York
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lu, Wenhua — City College of New York
- Study coordinator: Lu, Wenhua
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.