Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) - Advancing Mental Health and Well-being

The Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) was founded in December 1972 by a group of Asian American psychologists and other mental health professionals in the San Fancisco Bay Area. With the leadership of Dr. Derald Sue (AAPA’s first President) and Dr. Stanley Sue, the first core group was formed and included educators, social workers, master’s level psychologists and other mental health professionals. The group was vitally interested in Asian American psychology and mental health issues, in the training and education of Asian American mental health professionals, and in collaborating and networking with their peers. Psychologists in this early group included Roger Lum, Marion Tinloy, Tina Tong Yee, and Reiko True. From these beginnings in the 1970’s, the AAPA struggled in its growth from a handful of active members located in California to a national organization with nearly 400 members in 1995. Since its inception, the Association advocated on behalf of Asian Americans as well as advancing Asian American psychology. In the 1980’s, for example, the AAPA pressed the U.S. Bureau of the Census to include Asian American subgroups in its census data, and fought against the English-only language movement in California. The development of Asian American psychological theory, research and practice was shaped by members such as Derald Sue, Stanley Sue, Harry Kitano, Richard Suinn, Frederick Leong and others. Throughout its history, AAPA has published journals and newsletters focused on the education and training of Asian American psychologists, Asian-American psychological topics, and methods of improving mental health services for Asian Americans. The Association leads and guides other professional organizations on Asian American psychology and is in the forefront of the multicultural psychology movement.