LOS ANGELES, California – Survivors of a devastating shooting at a California dance hall continue to grapple with trauma more than a year after the tragic event. The shooting occurred during a Lunar New Year’s eve party, claiming the lives of 11 individuals and leaving many others emotionally scarred.

Soo Wong, a survivor of the shooting, expressed the ongoing nightmares and grief that have plagued her since the tragic incident. The mental toll has led her to seek therapy, though initial sessions only served to resurface painful memories. However, Wong’s persistence led her to find comfort in a new therapist, who was able to provide care in her native language, Cantonese, minimizing the linguistic barriers often faced in mental health care.

The aftermath of the shooting has highlighted the significant barriers faced by the Asian community in accessing mental health services. Many survivors have struggled to find Asian-language therapists and bilingual providers who can address their specific cultural and linguistic needs.

Eric Chen, a Christian pastor who has become a lifeline for many survivors, emphasized the importance of cultural sensitivity and language concordance in mental health care. He has been instrumental in providing support and bridging the gaps in care for the survivors of the shooting.

The trauma of the event has also brought to light the cultural stigma surrounding mental health care within the Asian American community. Many survivors have grappled with the shame and reluctance to seek help due to deeply ingrained cultural taboos regarding emotional vulnerability and mental illness.

In response to the critical need for support, the city of Monterey Park established the MPK Hope Resiliency Center, offering multilingual counseling, survivor support groups, and various therapeutic activities. The center aims to address the cultural and linguistic barriers faced by the survivors in accessing mental health care.

The journey to recovery for the survivors has been marked by resilience and community support. Despite the lingering sadness, survivors have found solace in coming together, sharing their experiences, and leaning on each other for comfort and healing. The importance of creating safe spaces and culturally sensitive mental health resources has become increasingly evident, underscoring the need for more diverse and accessible mental health care options for the Asian American community.