For Billy, NAMI-NYC’s Support Groups Coordinator, talking openly about mental health has been just as transformative for him as it is for the community members he serves. “There’s something very special when people share their lived experience,” Billy explained. Since working with NAMI-NYC, he has attended several peer support groups and has seen firsthand how talking about mental health brings healing and hope. 

Billy wanted to work in mental health support to advocate for mental healthcare in his community. “In the Asian American community, we don’t really talk about mental health much or are very hesitant to,” he explained. Seeing how stigma surrounding mental health impacts Asian Americans, he chose to find ways to bridge the gap by promoting culturally responsive mental health services, including NAMI-NYC’s AAPI support groups.  

“Being a part of a community where people are vulnerable and support each other has been incredibly uplifting,” Billy shared. “It’s beautiful to see the friendships that form and how people grow together.”  

Billy has found that NAMI-NYC’s commitment to mental health extends beyond its support groups; it’s woven into the workplace itself. “I really appreciate that as a workplace, we respect boundaries,” he said. “We are often helping other people, but my colleagues also remind us to take care of our own well-being.” He’s found that prioritizing his own mental health makes him better at his job and a more caring person. “It’s been so encouraging to be part of an organization that truly cares about its employees and participants,” he reflected. “I’ve been learning and growing every day.”  

Billy’s story is a reminder that recovery and growth happen when we walk together. They happen when we find spaces where we can show up as our authentic selves and be met with compassion. “When we walk alongside each other,” Billy said, “we remind ourselves we were never meant to do this alone.” At NAMI-NYC, healing doesn’t just happen in the support groups; it happens among the people who help make them possible.  

Check out NAMI-NYC’s support groups here and begin your mental health journey.