NAMI Ask the Expert: Dear Stranger: A Journey of Youth Mental Health OD010

An on-demand video and transcript of the presentation are available here [opens in new tab].

About The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. They are an alliance of more than 650 local Affiliates and 49 State organizations who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education to people with mental illness and their loved ones. Through awareness, advocacy and education, NAMI is committed to building stronger communities and a better future for everyone affected by mental illness.

Course Summary

Practice Level: Beginner

This course, based on the Ask the Expert webinar series by NAMI, explores the personal and professional journey of Diana Chao, who founded Letters to Strangers while navigating her own youth mental health challenges. Through storytelling, evidence-based discussion, and clinical insight, the training examines intergenerational trauma, cultural stigma, and psychosomatic symptoms, while highlighting the power of peer connection and advocacy. The course provides actionable strategies for supporting youth, fostering resilience, and addressing systemic barriers that impact minority and immigrant populations.

The course, with an intended audience of social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and counselors, also presents research-grounded insights into youth mental health challenges and effective culturally informed approaches.

Course Format

This course contains a participant guide, practice test, and on-demand video (with a transcript and slide deck of the presentation). When you’re ready, purchase the course by clicking the “Add To Cart” or “Enroll” button. This will let you take the test, complete the course evaluation and receive your certificate for CE credits.

Learning Objectives

1. Describe the impact of cultural stigma and intergenerational trauma on youth mental health outcomes.
2. Identify evidence-based strategies to support youth experiencing mental health challenges, including peer-led interventions.
3. Apply approaches to recognizing and responding to “pain languages” and psychosomatic symptoms among diverse youth populations.

Course Syllabus

• Youth Mental Health and Early Onset
• Intergenerational Trauma and Cultural Stigma
• Coping, Healing, and Peer Interventions
• Clinical Considerations and Support Strategies

Current References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Youth Risk Behavior Survey data summary & trends report for dietary, physical activity, and sleep behaviors: 2013–2023. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/dietary-physical-sleep-behaviors.html [opens in new tab]

Hoagwood, K., Gendler, C., Davies, N., Davis, K., Boorada, P., Lettieri, R., & Kelleher, K. (2025). Effectiveness of youth and young adult peer support in mental health services: A systematic review. Administration and Policy in Mental Health Services Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10488-025-01451-0 [opens in new tab]

McCabe, E., Amarbayan, M. M., Rabi, S., Mendoza, J., Naqvi, S. F., Thapa Bajgain, K., Zwicker, J. D., & Santana, M. (2023). Youth engagement in mental health research: A systematic review. Health Expectations, 26(1), 30–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.13650 [opens in new tab]

Price, M. A., & Hollinsaid, N. L. (2022). Future directions in mental health treatment with stigmatized youth. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 51(5), 810–825. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2022.2109652 [opens in new tab]

Radez, J., Reardon, T., Creswell, C., Lawrence, P. J., Evdoka-Burton, G., & Waite, P. (2021). Why do children and adolescents (not) seek and access professional help for their mental health problems? A systematic review of quantitative and qualitative studies. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 30, 183–211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-019-01469-4 [opens in new tab]

Terrana, A., & Al-Delaimy, W. (2023). A systematic review of cross-cultural measures of resilience and its promotive and protective factors. Transcultural Psychiatry, 60(4), 733–750. https://doi.org/10.1177/13634615231167661 [opens in new tab]

Yu, S. H., Wright, B., Aguirre, D., Lazaro, Y. M., Kodish, T., & Lau, A. S. (2025). Determinants of stigma against help-seeking in schools and help-seeking behaviors of Asian American and Latinx youth experiencing internalizing problems. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000736 [opens in new tab]

Instructors

Diana Chao, Founder & Executive Director, Letters to Strangers

Diana Chao is a first-generation Chinese-American immigrant from Southern California. She founded Letters to Strangers (L2S) when she was a sophomore in high school after bipolar disorder nearly ended her life. By beginning to heal through letters, she discovered that writing is humanity distilled into ink.

Today, L2S is the largest global youth-for-youth mental health nonprofit, impacting more than 35,000 people every year on six continents and publishing the world’s first youth-for-youth mental health guidebook for free. For this effort, Diana has been named a 2021 Princess Diana Legacy Award Winner, 2020 L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth, and Oprah Magazine’s 2019 Health Hero. As part of Adobe’s inaugural class of global Top Talents, Diana’s “Minority Mental Health Month” self-portrait series went viral with 2+ million views, and she teaches and speaks on youth mental health.

Ken Duckworth, M.D.

Ken Duckworth’s journey into psychiatry started when he was a boy growing up with a dad who experienced severe bipolar disorder. His father was loving, kind, and periodically quite ill, hospitalized for months at a time. Ken became a psychiatrist in part to help his father. He is very fortunate to serve as the Chief Medical Officer for NAMI and to be part of this remarkable community.

Ken authored NAMI’s first book, You Are Not Alone: The NAMI Guide to Navigating Mental Health―With Advice from Experts and Wisdom from Real People and Families [opens in new tab]. Written with authority and compassion, this is the essential resource for individuals and families seeking expert guidance on diagnosis, treatment and recovery, featuring inspiring, true stories from real people in their own words.

Ken is double-board certified in adult and child/adolescent psychiatry and has completed a forensic psychiatry fellowship.

Nicole Errickson, LCSW

Nicole Errickson, LCSW Nicole is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in the state of Georgia. She brings over 19 years experience in the social work field, primarily working in school systems as a school social worker and with the McKinney-Vento grant. Over her career, Nicole has had several opportunities to help develop and execute professional development events. Nicole has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of South Alabama and a Masters in Social Work from the University of Alabama.

Accreditation Approval Statements

CE4Less.com is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. CE4Less.com maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CE4Less.com, provider #1115, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/8/24-8/8/27.

Social workers completing this course receive 1 general continuing education credits.

We are committed to providing our learners with unbiased information. CE4Less never accepts commercial support and our authors have no significant financial or other conflicts of interest pertaining to the material.