We hear the same story from the Asian American community over and over again: A happy family with hopes and dreams, only to be shattered by something we’re still scared to address, something we still don’t fully understand. For our community, mental health is a growing epidemic. Asian Americans have been fighting a silent war alone–but not for long.

Silent War tells the stories of Asian American families struggling with mental health. A tragic death befalls a family, yet it takes years to recognize the root cause until the daughter falls sick. Signs of a child’s battle with depression continue to mount, but her parents deny the gravity of the situation until it’s almost too late. Two families are forced to live with the dire consequences of discrimination and bear the weight of racial trauma. And a group of Asian American youths share their lived experiences navigating the complex terrain of identity, race, gender, and sexuality. Also featured include the voices of inspiring community leaders determined to change the way we approach mental health.

The film presents a unique opportunity for discourse on culture, identity, racism, and mental illness. A quick survey of the current landscape yields a good number of documentaries on mental health as an ever-growing national crisis. But very few have addressed Asian American struggles with mental health. For the first time, in a full-length documentary Asian Americans step out of the shadows to “tell our stories,” making immeasurable strides towards change.

We are uniquely positioned to produce a piece with invaluable impact. UCA and its WAVES team have worked tirelessly with countless families in our community, earning their trust and being granted admission to their testimonies. Silent War is being led by award winning filmmaker, Changfu Chang, and his team consisting of an Emmy award winning cinematographer and several activists, all of whom are dedicated to improving the wellbeing of our community. This project is truly a collaborative piece produced by and for our community. Struggling with psychological health can feel like a one-man battle. But standing united against the stigma surrounding mental illness can help us win the war.